IBA Stage: Reflections on Sharjah Biennial 16 – to carry

From left: Natasha Ginwala, Megan Tamati-Quennell, Zeynep Öz, Alia Swastika and Amal Khalaf. Al Mureijah, Sharjah, 2024. Photo: Danko Stjepanovic.

As Sharjah Biennial 16 (SB16) approaches its closing months, we are pleased to host a special two-part IBA Stage conversation dedicated to reflecting on the curatorial thinking and artistic resonances that have shaped this remarkable edition. Curated collaboratively by Alia Swastika, Amal Khalaf, Megan Tamati-Quennell, Natasha Ginwala, and Zeynep Öz, SB16 has unfolded across the Emirate of Sharjah with over 190 participants and more than 200 new commissions.

Taking place under the expansive and poetic title to carry, this edition of Sharjah Biennial invites us to consider the act of carrying as both metaphor and methodology: to carry histories, wounds, songs, solidarities, and futures. The biennial’s curatorial structure—rooted in shared authorship and interwoven methodologies—has given rise to a rich landscape of practices that span performance, sound, ritual, research, and intergenerational storytelling. From the coastlines of Kalba to the mountain town of Al Dhaid, the biennial has proposed art as a site of encounter, a holding space, and a form of resistance.

In recognition of this plurality and to allow for deeper engagement with each curatorial voice, the IBA Stage will host the event in two distinct sessions:

• Part I: June 6, 2025 at 1pm Sharjah Time
  With Alia Swastika, Amal Khalaf, and Natasha Ginwala

• Part II: June 10, 2025 at 1pm Sharjah Time
  With Megan Tamati-Quennell and Zeynep Öz

This two-part format reflects the ethos of to carry, refusing the urge to consolidate, instead embracing multiplicity and the layered temporalities embedded in the curators’ approaches, giving the complex narratives the space and time to unfold. Each session will delve into the curators’ individual perspectives, the processes behind their projects, and the collective conversations that shaped the biennial’s structure. Together, these discussions will offer insights into how large-scale exhibitions can act as vessels for collective care, radical pedagogy, and deep artistic and curatorial research.

In the days leading up to the events, we will publish a series of short profiles introducing each curator, offering a window into their curatorial language and practices. These will serve as both an invitation and a contextual guide to the conversations to come.

Stay tuned for more news from us on this upcoming IBA Stage event and keep following communications on the Sharjah Biennial here.

To have the possibility to hear and discuss with the individuals behind biennials has been a key component of what we believe IBA can offer to our members and the wider public and we value your participation through our live streams. As always IBA Stage events are meant as a moment to hear about a project through its makers and have the opportunity to participate in a Q&A session at the end of the presentation.

Click here to register for the first part of the event!

Click here to register for the second part of the event!

Stay connected with us through our social media channels for updates and further details.