Featuring more than 140 participants, and over 80 new commissions, the artists in the Sharjah Biennial 2025, who will present exquisite art pieces that align with the theme: to carry, has been revealed. This poignant theme invites us to ponder on the weight of our collective heritage, the burdens we bear, and the legacies we leave behind.
The Sharjah Biennial is a prominent international contemporary art exhibition organized by the Sharjah Art Foundation in the UAE. It features artists from around the world, presenting works across various mediums, such as installations, performances, and films, addressing pressing global issues. Known for fostering cross-cultural dialogue, the Biennial often focuses on socio-political, environmental, and cultural themes.
At its core, to carry speaks to the human experience of navigating complex identities, cultural traditions, and personal narratives. It asks us to consider what we hold onto, what we let go of, and what we pass down to future generations. This theme resonates deeply in our increasingly interconnected world, where migration, memory, and resilience shape our shared stories. It enkindles questions surrounding:
- What we carry within us when we move, migrate, or transform
- The cultural anchors we cling to, and what new meanings we forge
- How we reconcile our inherited histories with our imagined futures
- If we carry any emotional, psychological, and physical burdens, and what they are
- How we find strength as a collective
Under the visionary guidance of five curators, Alia Swastika, Amal Khalaf, Megan Tamati-Quennell, Natasha Ginwala, and Zeynep Öz, the 16th Edition of the Sharjah Biennial takes place from the 6th of February to the 15th of June, 2025 in Sharjah City, Al Hamriyah, Al Dhaid, Kalba, Al Madam and other locations across the Emirate of Sharjah. It is set to become a platform for introspection, exploring the intersections of past, present, and future.
Participating artists include: Adam HajYahia*; Adelita Husni-Bey*; Akinbode Akinbiyi; Akira Ikezoe*; Akram Zaatari; Albert Refiti; Alia Farid*; Aluaiy Kaumakan; Ana Iti; Anga Art Collective*; Arthur Jafa; Ayman Zedani; Ayşe İdil İdil, Betül Aksu, Okyanus Çağrı Camcı with Merve Elveren*; Ayumi Paul; Aziz Hazara*; Betty Adii with Septina Layan*; Bilna’es*; Bint Mbareh*; Brian Martin; Cannupa Hanska Luger; Cassi Namoda*; Marie-Claire Messouma Manlanbien; M’barek Bouhchichi*; Megan Cope; M’hammed Kilito*; Nasser Al Yousif; Ndidi Dike*; Nge Lay*; Serapis Maritime*; Sevil Tunaboylu*; Shivanjani Lal*; Shubigi Rao; Singing Wells*; Sky Hopinka; Stephanie Comilang*; Steven Yazzie; Subash Thebe Limbu; Suzanne Lacy; T. Vinoja*; Tara Al Dughaither*; and others. The asterisk (*) indicates participants presenting new commissions.
Through its diverse lineup of artists and commissions, the 16th Edition of the Sharjah Biennial reflects on the multifaceted nature of change. From technological advancements to societal shifts, animistic beliefs to ritualistic practices, the exhibition invites us to contemplate the ways in which we carry – and are carried by – our worlds. The theme also alludes to the idea of inheritance, not just of physical objects or cultural traditions, but of stories, memories, and experiences. As indicated, it asks us to consider how we honour our ancestors, how we acknowledge our past, and how we forge paths forward. What do we carry from our past that informs our present and shapes our future?
“The Biennial offers a space for imagining new collective futures while recognising the weight of shared histories and experiences,” notes Sheikha Hoor Al Qasimi, president of the Sharjah Art Foundation. By doing so, the Sharjah Biennial 16 creates a platform for artistic expression, critical discourse, and cultural exchange.
As visitors navigate the exhibition, they will encounter a range of media, from visual arts to performance, film to installation. Each work will offer a perspective on the theme, inviting viewers to contemplate the complexities and nuances of carrying – and being carried by – our individual and collective worlds. Ultimately, the Sharjah Biennial 2025 presents a profound exploration of what it means to be human.
