Dakar Biennale has announced the theme, artist list and guest curators of its upcoming 15th edition, which runs from 16 May to 16 June 2024.
Entitled The Wake, Dakar Biennale 2024 will explore the relationship between art, society, the climate and history, particularly in the context of Dakar. Calling for an awakening to the social and environmental crises confronting the world, the biennial positions artists as the drivers of a new global narrative.
Fifty-eight artists from Africa and its diaspora will be represented at the biennial. Working across drawing, virtual reality, sound, sculpture and photography, they include Adel Adessemed, Sara Altantawi, Hiba Baddou, Youness Ben Slimane, Hicham Berrada, Dalila Dalleas Bouzar, Slimen El Kamel, Majida Khattari, Faten Rouissi, Youssef Taki Miloudi and Ghizlane Sahli.
See the full list below:
Adel Adessemed
Sara Altantawi
Clay Apenouvon
Hiba Baddou
Oumar Ball
Mugabo Baritegera
Sonia Barrett
Arebenor Bassene
Ama Be
Youness Ben Slimane
Hicham Berrada
Dalila Dalleas Bouzar
Agnes Brezephin
Jenna Burchell
Salimata Camara
Sika Da Sylveira
Elladji Lincy Deloumeaux
Aliou Diack
Collectif Diodos
Mohamed Diop
Senami Donoumassou
Sokari Douglas- Camp
Slimen El Kamel
Samuel Gelas
Astrid Gonzalez
Thonton Kabeya
Tahir Carl Karmali
Majida Khattari
Pascal Konan
Lo-Def Film Factory
Mad in Pixel
Galane Romane Madede
Marie-Claire Messouma Manlanbien
Martin Lukongo Masudi
Primo Mauridi
Wilfried Mbida
Tuli Mekondjo
Stéphanie Melyon-Reinette
Siwa Mgoboza
Maya Mihindou
Youssef Taki Miloudi
Wangechi Mutu
Mouhamadou N’doye (N’doye Douts)
Lizette Nin
Ronald Odur
Masud Olufani
Nengi Omuku
Nyaba Leon Ouedraogo
Abdou Ouologuem
Sidney Regis
Faten Rouissi
Ghizlane Sahli
Shivay la Multiple
Jake Michael Singer
Dior Thiam
Gina Athéna Ulysse
Skumbuzo Vabaza
Ezra Wube
Dakar Biennale 2024 will consist of multiple exhibitions held at various venues across Dakar. Kara Blackmore, Marynet J and Cindy Olohou will curate a special exhibition entitled On s’arrêtera quand la Terre rugira (We will stop when the Earth roars), which brings together the works of ten international artists revolving around urgent issues surrounding the contemporary ecological crisis and examines how its effects are most deeply felt by countries who are least responsible for it.
The Musée des civilisations noires will present a showcase of national pavilions, the Maison de la Culture Douta Seck and the Galerie nationale d’art will host exhibitions paying homage to Anta Germaine Gaye and the late Mouhamadou N’doye (N’doye Douts) respectively, with Salimata Camara and Sylvain Sankalé as the respective curators. Kalidou Kassé will curate a show entitled Collectionneurs, and a section dedicated to design will be held in the Ndary Lo space, within the Old Courthouse, curated by designer Ousmane Mbaye.
Dakar Biennale 2024 will also feature a series of panel discussions in French and English and revolving around the biennial’s theme, held at the Musée des civilisations noires and the Ancien Palais de Justice Dakar. The discussions will take place in the morning followed by participatory round tables and artist performances in the afternoon, at the Old Courthouse.
