Get your culture fix at this year's Sharjah Biennial
Sponsored: More than 80 artists, over 60 major new commissions and many never-before-seen works will be featured…
Art and culture lovers, here’s one for you. The Sharjah Biennial on now, and it’s a must-attend art event that’s held across the emirate.
Organised by the Sharjah Art Foundation, the Sharjah Biennial, is ranked among the top 10 biennials worldwide. Now it in’s 14th edition, more than 80 artists, over 60 major new commissions and many never-before-seen works will be on display.
Running until June 10, the Sharjah Biennial theme for this year is Leaving the Echo Chamber and has been co-created by Zoe Butt, Omar Kholeif and Claire Tancons in three distinct exhibitions that bring together a range of experiences and works.
The Echo Chamber plays on the idea that the information that we as individuals are bombarded with on a daily basis is an ‘echo’, that conform to our own preference and mindset, therefore we are unable to see the whole story.
Through a variety of three exhibitions, the Sharjah Biennial persuades us to ask questions and to dwell on the other side of the unseen picture.
The exhibitions include major new commissions, large-scale public installations, performances, and films that aim to make us rethink the ‘echo chamber’ of contemporary life.
There is no admission fee to enter the Sharjah Biennial exhibitions, and there are even free guided tours available on request to help you make the most of the experience.
Want to get involved in one of the programmes? Several programmes revolving around the ‘Leaving the Echo Chamber’ theme are available free of cost for you to choose from and are targeted at children of different age groups as well as adults.
There’s even a film programme available that’s also free and open to the public which will take place in Sharjah Art Foundation’s open-air Mirage City Cinema.
For the full lineup of events taking place throughout the Sharjah Biennial visit this link.
While in Sharjah, why not make the time to visit the Rain Room installment located in Al Mujarrah, Sharjah? The Rain Room is an immersive installation by Random International that invites visitors to walk into a downpour without them getting drenched. The installation is opened every day of the week, but book in your time slot beforehand here.
If you’re feeling parched you can grab a quick drink or a bite to eat at Fen Café and Restaurant.
Don’t forget to check out Sharjah Art Shop (SAF) too where you can stock up on art-related publications, magazines, and books describing Sharjah’s cultural history and heritage or even pick up a gift or souvenier.
Sharjah Biennial, various locations in Sharjah, 9am to 9pm Saturday to Thursday, 4pm to 11pm Friday, March 7 to June 10, free admission and guided tour. sharjahart.org
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