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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.
Time Out Dubai
30-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Time Out Dubai
Time's running out to see Sharjah Biennial 16
One of the biggest contemporary art exhibitions in the UAE is ending soon, so it's time to carve out some time this weekend. Sharjah Biennial 16, under the title to carry will come to a close on Sunday June 15. Until then, you can see the works in multiple venues across the city in everything from heritage buildings to public courtyards at Sharjah City, Al Hamriyah, Al Dhaid, Kalba and more. Image courtesy of Sharjah Art Foundation What is it? With more than 650 works by over 190 artists and over 200 brand-new commissions, it's a rich, multi-voiced conversation, spread across the city in everything from heritage buildings to public courtyards. Curated by five voices from different backgrounds and practices, the experience is all about allowing the art, thoughts and conversations to unfold. Exploring the exhibition There are free guided tours available, whether you're going solo or as part of a group. Sign up for a free tour here: You can even hop on a free Sunday shuttle from Al Mureijah Square at 2pm, with routes heading to both Kalba and Al Hamriyah. That's your transport and your tour sorted. Michael Parekōwhai, He Kōrero Pūrākau mo Te Awanui o Te Motu: Story of a New Zealand river, 2011. Collection of Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa. Image courtesy of Sharjah Art Foundation. Photo: Danko Stjepanovic Play Michael Parekōwhai's Steinway grand piano There are also unexpected surprises, like He Kōrero Pūrākau mo Te Awanui o Te Motu: Story of a New Zealand river which features a carved Steinway grand piano by artist Michael Parekōwhai. And it's just for show, trained pianists can actually book a slot to play it, activating the sculpture through their own interpretation. Book your slots on Wednesdays, Saturdays and Sundays until June 15, 2025. Image courtesy of Sharjah Art Foundation Listen to the exhibition For those who prefer a more relaxed kind of art immersion, there's always Biennial Bytes 2, the podcast offering behind-the-scenes chats with participating artists. Episodes drop every Monday on Apple, Spotify, Anghami, Google and other podcast platforms, or you can catch up via And when you're ready for a break, head to Fen Café & Restaurant for a snack or browse the Sharjah Art Shops for souvenirs and books. A little something to carry home with you, perhaps? Entry to Sharjah Biennial 16 is completely free, and doors are open Saturday to Thursday from 9am to 9pm, and on Fridays from 4pm to 9pm. See you there?
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.
