Sharjah Biennial 17: A New Era of Artistic Dialogue and Reflection
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The Sharjah Biennial has long stood as a beacon of cultural and artistic exchange in the Middle East, fostering meaningful dialogues that span across borders and disciplines. Since its inception in 2003, the Biennial has evolved into a vital platform for creative experimentation, providing artists and curators with opportunities to engage with pressing social issues and diverse cultural narratives. As anticipation builds for the upcoming Sharjah Biennial 17, the event’s two distinguished curators, Angela Harutyunyan and Paula Nascimento, prepare to guide this influential arts gathering into new territories of thought and exploration.
Hoor Al Qasimi, the President and Director of the Sharjah Art Foundation, emphasizes the significance of this year’s Biennial in providing a local yet globally resonant framework for artistic expression. “Since 2003, the Sharjah Biennial has been a platform for creative experimentation, collaboration, and social impact. Rooted in our local context, we have fostered a place of significant regional and international exchange, bridging cultures and shared histories,” Al Qasimi states. This reiteration of purpose sets the tone for Harutyunyan and Nascimento’s curatorial vision — one that seeks to foster critical engagement and collective reflection.
Angela Harutyunyan, currently a Professor of Contemporary Art and Theory at the Berlin University of the Arts, possesses a rich background in examining the socio-political dimensions of artistic practices. Her focus on the broader implications of art — particularly in the context of ‘non-capitalist modernity’ — positions her as an essential voice in contemporary discourse. “The possibilities and limitations of the biennial form in making visible the uneven temporal rhythms that pulsate beneath contemporaneity are of particular interest to me,” Harutyunyan elaborates. Through her work, she aims to investigate how artworks can encapsulate the remnants of past emancipatory projects, breathing life into what she describes as the “decaying but undead afterlives” of these movements.
Harutyunyan’s approach suggests a profound examination of history and memory through the lens of contemporary artistic practice. This reflects a wider trend within the art world, where there is a growing acknowledgment of how historical narratives inform current societal structures. By focusing on these layered realities, her curatorial direction for Biennial 17 promises to invite visitors to engage deeply with the issues at hand, prompting meaningful discussions about the role of art in our understanding of past and present.
Paula Nascimento, an independent curator and architect based in Luanda, complements Harutyunyan’s vision with her emphasis on the communal aspects of artistic practice. Nascimento views biennials as not merely exhibition platforms but as vital venues for experimentation, community gathering, and social transformation. “I am interested in thinking with artists and in the articulations between art-making and infrastructure in an expanded way. I also seek to explore art’s capacity to imagine and propose spaces and other worlds and forms of relations,” she articulates.
This dual focus on communal engagement and artistic innovation reflects a broader understanding of art’s potential as a catalyst for social change. It raises pertinent questions about how contemporary art not only reflects but actively shapes the societies in which it exists. By facilitating interactions between artists and various communities, Nascimento’s curatorial contributions will likely serve to expand the dialogues initiated by Harutyunyan, creating a richer and more textured experience for audiences.
As the curatorial team prepares for the opening of Sharjah Biennial 17, the excitement surrounding the event is palpable. This biennial is poised to highlight not only the individual perspectives of Harutyunyan and Nascimento but also the collective consciousness of contemporary artists who are increasingly aware of their roles — both within society and as conveyors of culture. Through a spectrum of artistic projects located at various sites across Sharjah, visitors can expect an immersive experience that promises to challenge, provoke, and inspire.
In a world grappling with complexities ranging from environmental crises to socio-political upheaval, the Sharjah Biennial offers a timely reminder of the power of art to act as a space for reflection, dialogue, and eventually, transformation. As culture continues to navigate the uncertain terrain of the contemporary era, the importance of platforms like the Sharjah Biennial cannot be overstated, maintaining their relevance as sites of critical engagement and meaningful exchange.
As this next chapter unfolds, it beckons audiences and artists alike to delve into the imaginative possibilities that art presents, igniting conversations that resonate far beyond the walls of galleries and museums.
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