Archive: Issue No. 92, April 2005

26.04.05 The Sharjah 7th Biennial
26.04.05 Imagining the Book II at the Alexandria Library, Egypt
 

A short drive from Dubai in the United Arab Emirates, the Sharjah Biennial opened on April 6 for a two month run under the curatorship of Jack Persekian working with co-curator Canadian artist Ken Lum. Over 70 artists from 36 countries are represented, though South Africa is not one of those countries. On hand for the judging was Okwui Emwezor.

The biennial is being presented as "a new era for contemporary art in the Gulf", and an online tour can be taken at www.universes-in-universe.de/car/sharjah/2005/english.htm. Artists who may be known to South African audiences include Carlos Garaicoa, who exhibited in this country on 'Intimas Marcas Memorias' and Ingrid Mwangi, part of the lineup of the Museum for African Art in New York's 'Looking Both Ways' show. Egyptian artist and Cairo Biennale winner Moataz Nasr, who will show at Johannesburg's Franchise later this year, is also exhibiting.

April 6 - June 6

Appropriately enough, this new biennale at the sculpturally exciting Alexandria Library takes as its central theme the book, in all its manifestations. The interpretations by more than 100 artists vary from exquisite Arab calligraphy to video installations which incorporate text and narrative. A secondary theme presented by curator Mohamed Abouelnaga is 'The Desert', seen as the divide between the countries on the northern perimeter of the continent of Africa and the countries to the south of the Sahara.

Selection was made through the submission of portfolios and proposals, and South Africa is represented by three Cape Town artists, Sonja Rademeyer, Norman O'Flynn and Sue Williamson.

April 16 - May 21