Sharjah biennial opening programme from today

sharjah — The opening programme of the 13th edition of Sharjah Biennial (SB13) will start today under the title Tamawuj (a wavy, undulating appearance). The opening programme will continue till Tuesday.

Addressing a Press conference, Sheikha Hoor Al Qasimi, Chairperson of the Sharjah Art Foundation, said that the 13th edition includes exhibition projects and education programmes in five locations. “SB13 includes exhibitions and public programmes in two acts, one in Sharjah (March 10 – June 12, 2017) and one in Beirut,” she added.

Tamawuj also seeks to mobilise ongoing conversations. Four interlocutors in as many cities have organised projects around keywords that are integral to SB13’s conceptual framework.

Kader Attia investigated water in Dakar (January 8), Zeynep Oz will consider crops in Istanbul (from May 13), Lara Khaldi will study earth in Ramallah (from August 10) and Ashkal Alwan will reflect on the culinary in Beirut (from October 15).

Sheikha Hoor said that For SB13, curator Christine Tohme has invited over 70 artists to engage with the curatorial theme of tamawuj. Over 25 artists have created new site-specific works in Al Mureijah Square and other SAF buildings and courtyards across the arts and heritage areas that have been used for the Sharjah Biennial since 2003. Commissioned works will also be on display at The Flying Saucer, and for the first time, Old Sharjah Planetarium and Al Hamriyah Studios.

In addition, artists Christoph Keller, Metahaven and Zhou Tao have been commissioned to produce works which will be completed over the course of the year, and artists Noor Abuarafeh, Iman Issa and Karine Wehbé will contribute with publications that will be released in the same time period. Aseries of events including performances, films, lectures and the annual March Meeting will be held as part of the opening programme.