Latest news with #AmalKhalaf
Korea Herald
22-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Korea Herald
Busan Biennale 2026 to be led by Amal Khalaf, Evelyn Simons
Busan Biennale 2026 will be co-curated, delving into the possibilities of collective healing within the global context Curators Amal Khalaf and Evelyn Simons will collaborate to lead the Busan Biennale 2026 — the second-largest art biennale in South Korea, held from September to November next year. Khalaf has expanded her curatorial experiences globally, most recently serving as co-curator of the 16th Sharjah Biennale that concluded in June and directing the Bahrain Pavilion at the Venice Biennale in 2019 as a co-curator. The London-based curator is preparing to open 'Ghost 2568: Wish We Were Here,' a video art festival held in Bangkok in October, according to the Busan Biennale Organizing Committee. A curatorial open call for the 13th Busan Biennale was launched in May with the direction of "an art platform where the local and global intersect." It attracted about 70 individuals and collectives from Korea and abroad, the committee said on Monday. Simons is an independent curator based in Brussels and the curator of the ongoing exhibition 'These Branching Moments' at the Fotomuseum Antwerp through September. From 2019 to 2023, she led the visual arts and performance programming at Horst Arts & Music, an electronic music and arts festival in Belgium. 'The proposal titled 'Dissident Chorus' gained strong support from the jury for its artistic vision for addressing the five topics of memory, empathy, care, resistance and solidarity in pursuit of global collective healing,' said Lee Joon, executive director of the committee, in a statement. The 12th edition of Busan Biennale was held in 2024, curated by two artistic directors, Vera Mey and Philippe Pirotte, with the theme of 'Seeing in the Dark.'
What's On
11-06-2025
- Entertainment
- What's On
Final call: Experience Sharjah Biennial 16 before it ends
Sponsored: The region's largest art event… Art lovers, this is your final call — Sharjah Biennial 16 (SB16), the region's biggest and most talked-about contemporary art event, wraps up on June 15, 2025. Titled to carry , the Biennial spans the entire Emirate of Sharjah, from city landmarks to coastal and desert towns, inviting you to explore what we carry as individuals and societies — emotionally, culturally, and historically. With over 650 artworks by nearly 200 global participants, including more than 200 new commissions, this edition is massive in both scale and scope. Five curators – Alia Swastika,Amal Khalaf, Megan Tamati-Quennell, Natasha Ginwala and Zeynep Öz – shape a multi-layered narrative that challenges and expands traditional perspectives on contemporary art, identity, and community. Explore over 650 works across the Emirate Make sure to plan your route as SB16 stretches across multiple venues in Sharjah City, Al Hamriyah, Kalba, Al Dhaid, and beyond. Each site offers a unique curatorial voice, making this Biennial a journey of perspectives as much as places. Finally, let the theme guide you . This year's title — to carry —asks you to reflect: what do you carry in life, culture, memory, or identity? The answer may look different at every venue. Join a free guided tour and discover hidden layers Make the most of your visit by booking a free individual or group tour. These insightful walks not only deepen your understanding of the artworks but also connect you with Sharjah's rich heritage and architectural gems. Make sure to book your spot using the online form here to schedule your tour. And don't miss Sunday specials. Every Sunday at 2pm, hop on one of the free shuttle buses from Al Mureijah Square. Choose between Bus 1 to Al Hamriyah & Kalba or Bus 2 to the Central Region—no reservations needed, just show up. Play Michael Parekōwhai's carved Steinway Grand Piano Pianists, take note – this is your once-in-a-lifetime chance to perform on a carved Steinway grand piano that doubles as a sculpture. Created by Michael Parekōwhai, this Māori-influenced artwork titled He Kōrero Pūrākau mo Te Awanui o Te Motu: Story of a New Zealand river awaits your touch. Book a 30-minute slot through the website to perform on this exquisite piece in Gallery 3, Al Mureijah Square, on Wednesdays, Saturdays, or Sundays, until Sunday, June 15. Stream artist conversations on the go with Biennial Bytes 2 Take the Biennial with you by listening to Biennial Bytes 2, the official SB16 podcast series. Perfect for car rides, coffee breaks, or post-visit reflections. New episodes drop every Monday featuring SB16 artists and curators. You can find it on your favorite platform: Apple, Spotify, Anghami, Google Podcasts – or head to to catch up. Before you go: visit tips and essentials Check out the full programme and plan your experience on the SB16 Visit Page. Venues are open daily, and many installations are located in heritage buildings and public courtyards – wear comfy shoes, bring water, and stay curious. The best part is that entry to all exhibitions, tours, performances, and activations is totally free of charge. Whether you're a seasoned art aficionado or a curious explorer, SB16 is your chance to dive deep into stories that transcend borders. But hurry — it all ends June 15. Sharjah Biennial 16, multiple venues across the Emirate of Sharjah, until June 15, free, Sat to Thu, 9am to 9pm, Fri, 4pm to 9pm, Image caption: From left to right: Cassi Namoda,Kala vanga heti, 2024. From 'Carapau in the deep abyss', by Sharjah Art Foundation. Courtesy of the artist and Xavier Hufkens, Brussels; Alia Farid,Chibayish(still), 2023. Commissioned by The Vega Foundation and Doha Film Institute. Image courtesyof the artist; Michael Parekōwhai,He Kōrero Pūrākau mo te Awanui o Te Motu: Story of a New Zealandriver, 2011. Collection Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa;Güneş Terkol, Gori Leso Leso, 2024. Image courtesy of the artist; Akira Ikezoe,Bears on the Diagram of Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant,2021/2024, Commissioned by Sharjah Art Foundation. Courtesy of the artist.
Sharjah 24
14-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Sharjah 24
Now streaming: Biennial Bytes season two
Biennial Bytes 2 kicks off with a conversation between the five curators of SB16—Alia Swastika, Amal Khalaf, Megan Tamati-Quennell, Natasha Ginwala and Zeynep Öz. Moderated by Hoor Al Qasimi, President and Director of Sharjah Art Foundation, the episode explores the synergies between curators' individual projects, the diverse formats in which audiences can experience the art at SB16, and how a Biennial can be a space of encounter and collective processing. Subsequent episodes spotlight specific works and projects presented at SB16 through conversations between individual curators and various participating artists, including Bint Mbareh, an artist and sound researcher working around songs of resistance in relation to land and water sovereignty in Palestine, and Joe Namy who sheds light on his collaborative approach to creating sound installations and performances. Yhonnie Scarce speaks about the historical context of nuclear testing on Aboriginal lands in Australia, and Tabu Osusa, founder of Singing Wells, dives into the group's decolonial mission to platform and preserve East African music, while Citra Sasmita talks about her collaboration with Kamasan maestra Mangku Muriati. Tune in to the podcast to listen to personal anecdotes and the stories behind their artworks. Other SB16 artists featured in the podcast are: Stephanie Comilang, Hellen Ascoli, Ana Iti, Naeem Mohaiemen, Pratchaya Phinthong, Adelita Husni-Bey, Mahmoud Khaled and Kapulani Landgraf. Convening under the title to carry, a multivocal and open-ended proposition, SB16 presents over 650 works by nearly 200 participants, including more than 200 new commissions. Exploring the ever-expanding questions of what to carry and how to carry it, SB16 is an invitation to encounter the different formations and positions of the five curators, as well as the resonances they have gathered. The Biennial runs until 15 June 2025 across several venues in Sharjah City, Al Hamriyah, Al Dhaid, Kalba and other locations in the Emirate of Sharjah. New episodes are released every Monday on Apple, Spotify, Anghami, Google and other podcast platforms.
Sharjah 24
03-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Sharjah 24
April Acts 2025: to carry new formations
How can we reimagine and critically investigate our current situations or positions to construct and manifest new approaches to resistance, reciprocity, communal networks and life-enabling systems and structures? to carry new formations explores this overarching question through the exchange of ideas and practices, bringing together conversations, performance, cultural expression, art and activism. April Acts 2025 takes place as a key extension of Sharjah Biennial 16, which features more than 650 works by nearly 200 participants, including more than 200 new commissions. Curated by Alia Swastika, Amal Khalaf, Megan Tamati-Quennell, Natasha Ginwala and Zeynep Öz, SB16 convenes under the title to carry . A multivocal and open-ended proposition exploring the ever-expanding questions of what to carry and how to carry it, SB16 is an invitation to encounter the different formations and positions of the five curators as well as the resonances they have gathered. Using SB16 as both a platform and an instrument, April Acts 2025 engages with the works at the Biennial to highlight independent and collective dialogues around systemic transition, societal shifts, ruptured and recovered histories, forms of collective organising, leadership (including communal leadership) and old knowledge reimagined in new forms. Encouraging practices of new and experimental methodologies, self-organisation and deep reflection and listening, the programme explores collaborative cultural production, acoustic heritage, creative infrastructures under threat, and the spatial and psychic boundaries that limit the movement of people and ideas. The programme builds off Sharjah's proximity to the sea to bolster discussions on belonging, mobility and marine traffic. Through panel discussions, artist talks, participatory workshops, film screenings and live music performances, April Acts 2025 aims to create a polyphonous space that invites multiple perspectives to co-exist and thrive. Among the offerings are guided walks; a listening session with Singing Wells; Risograph printing workshops; Self-Publishing workshops using several printing techniques such as Risograph, including a workshop led by Bhumika Saraswati and Siddhesh Gautam (founders of the magazine All That Blue ); discussions with artists such as Brian Martin, Yhonnie Scarce and Megan Cope; and a screening of First Horse (2024) by Awanui Simich-Pene. Başak Günak, Berke Can Özcan, Sandy Chamun and Hauptmeier I Recker will collaborate in a performance based on their sound installation in the Biennial; Koleka Putuma will offer a performance titled WATER (reprise) ; and there will also be a series of performances based on the SB16 work He Kōrero Pūrākau mō te Awanui o te Motu: Story of a New Zealand river (2011), the red, fully carved Steinway concert grand by Māori artist Michael Parekōwhai. Additionally, an invitation-only curatorial workshop anchored in the ethos of the Biennial creates space for collective wayfinding, offering a moment to reflect on what we inherit, what we hold, and what we must reimagine in order to carry forward new formations of support, resistance and continuity. For more information on Sharjah Biennial 16, please visit List of Participants Akinbode Akinbiyi, Akram Zaatari, Al MacSween, Albert L Refiti, Alia Swastika, Amal Khalaf, Andrew J. Eisenberg, Avni Sethi, Başak Günak, Berke Can Özcan, Bettina Ng'weno, Bhumika Saraswati, Bint Mbareh, Brian Martin, Caroline Courrioux, Claudia Martinez Garay, Christianna Bonin, Daniela Castro, Dawn Chan, E.N Mirembe, Engseng Ho, Fatma Belkıs, George Jose, Georgina Velasco (The Voice of Domestic Workers), Gita Rani, Grace Hussein Karima and Leah Ndahani Zawose (Zawose Sisters), Hauptmeier I Recker, Hsu Fang-Tze, John Clang, Jo-Lene Ong, Koleka Putuma, Mahmoud Khaled, Marigold Quimoy Balquen (The Voice of Domestic Workers), Mariam M. Alnoaimi, May Adadol Ingawanij, Megan Tamati-Quennell, Natasha Ginwala, One Sudan One Sound of Solidarity (OSOS), Raafat Majzoub, Red de Reproducción y Distribución (Reproduction and Distribution Network), Rosie Olang' Odhiambo, Sa Tahanan Collective, Sandy Chamoun, Sarathy Korwar, Seema Alavi, Siddhesh Gautam, Sophia Tintori, Tabu Osusa, Taloi Havini, Tara Al Dughaither, Yasmine El Rashidi, Zeynep Öz.
What's On
11-02-2025
- Entertainment
- What's On
Explore thought provoking artworks at Sharjah Biennial 16
Sponsored: Don't miss this fascinating journey of art across Sharjah… Explore a stunning showcase of art and culture that will feature an impressive array of over 650 works by almost 190 artists from around the world, over 200 new commissions. From February 6 until June 15, and planned across 17 venues in the emirate, this year's edition of the Sharjah Biennial will bring art to life at a series of new and innovative locations, transforming the city and its surrounding towns into an immersive cultural experience for both residents and visitors. The biennial is curated by Alia Swastika, Amal Khalaf, Megan Tamati-Quennell, Natasha Ginwala, and Zeynep Öz, under the title 'to carry'. The exhibition encourages you to think about how you move through life and shape the world around you, while taking a deeper look into how cultural traditions and personal stories are passed along, even when people transcend borders. The display also focuses on what people carry with them as they go through various life experiences and will invite viewers to explore how art connects to shared experiences like migration, displacement, and resilience. The Sharjah Biennial's works will be presented to the public in this exciting cultural showcase, alongside a dynamic programme of performances, music, and film productions across historical and contemporary venues in Sharjah City, Al Dhaid, Kalba, Al Madam, and Al Hamriyah, to name just a few. Iconic sites in the emirates such as Al Mureijah, Arts Square, and The Flying Saucer will host major installations, while emerging space such as Al Madam's buried village and Kalba Ice Factory will serve as a platform for unexpected venues, deepening the Biennial's connection to the region's history and cultural identity. The Biennial is all set to welcome visitors from February 6 to June 15. Throughout the Biennial, there will also be a range of exciting programmes including evening talks at March Meeting in Al Qasimiyah School from March 7 to 9 (10pm to 1am), and April Acts, a new weekend programme activating different aspects of the Biennial from April 18 to 20. Sharjah Biennial, Saturday to Thursday, 9am to 9pm, Fridays 4pm to 9pm, various locations, Sharjah, UAE.
