Curated by Alia Swastika, Amal Khalaf, Megan Tamati-Quennell, Natasha Ginwala and Zeynep Öz, Sharjah Biennial 16 convenes under the title to carry, a multivocal and open-ended proposition. Examining an ever-expanding list of what to carry, and how to carry it, the Biennial is an invitation to encounter the different formations and positions of the five curators as well as the constellation of resonances they have gathered.
The Biennial theme, ‘to carry’, entails understanding our precarity within spaces that are not our own while staying responsive to these sites through the cultures that we hold. It also signifies a bridge between multiple temporalities, encompassing intergenerational stories and various modes of inheritance. What do we carry when it is time to travel, flee or move on? What are the passages that we form as we migrate between territories and across time? What do we carry when we remain? What do we carry when we survive?
Emirati artist Hashel Al Lamki explores the complex relationship between humankind and their environment—both natural and constructed. His works on view at SB16, Maat (2025) and Part-Time Lovers (2025), draw on diverse cultural references, from ancient Egyptian ethical principles to cosmic cycles, while integrating materials including natural pigments, textiles, leather, and found objects.
Rooted in research and collaborations with artisans across Mallorca, Kerala, and Cairo, Maat reflects on moral enquiry and collective wisdom. The work responds to the historical context of Al Qasimiyah School, honouring the spirits believed to have blessed its students each morning. Drawing from the Egyptian Book of the Dead, Maat references the 42 ‘Negative Confessions’, declarations of moral integrity recited in the afterlife. These ancient ethical principles, echoed in modern legal systems, underscore Al Lamki’s belief in the universality of self-reflection as a guiding force across societies. Through natural dyeing, embroidery, and the incorporation of culturally significant materials like burial cloth and bridal fabric, Maat symbolically brings together diverse cultural practices, creating a shared space for contemplation on morality, heritage, and spiritual continuity.
In Part-Time Lovers, Al Lamki examines environmental shifts that transcend human lifespans—such as climate change, unusual weather patterns, and tectonic movements—through poetic compositions where sky and earth converge. Inspired by the cyclical ‘love relationship’ between the sun and the moon, the work draws parallels between natural forces and the delicate balance they maintain.
These works remain on view at SB16 until 15 June 2025.
