Sharjah: Sharjah Art Foundation has announced the theme and curatorial framework for the 17th edition of the Sharjah Biennial, scheduled to occur from January 21 to June 13, 2027. This significant event will feature 109 artists from various parts of the world, offering a platform for artistic expression and cultural discourse.
According to Emirates News Agency, the Biennial is titled 'What remains, sits restive' and aims to explore the transformations in contemporary art. It seeks to examine the present as a point of historical and cultural shifts that continue to shape today's reality. The event will showcase the convergence of two curatorial approaches led by Angela Harutyunyan and Paula Nascimento. This collaboration will engage with themes of memory, history, and transformation through a range of artistic practices.
Harutyunyan's curatorial approach revisits the trajectories of modernity across different contexts, while Nascimento's focus is on the effects of social and cultural transformations, such as 'slow violence', on both tangible and intangible spaces. This dual approach is intended to create an artistic dialogue that addresses pressing contemporary issues.
The 17th Sharjah Biennial will take place across multiple venues in Sharjah, presenting works that reflect a variety of perspectives. These contributions aim to foster new readings of contemporary reality, reinforcing the Biennial's role as a global arts platform. Through this edition, the Sharjah Biennial continues to enhance its reputation for promoting cultural dialogue, knowledge exchange, and artistic engagement with important human and cultural issues.