When Nigerian curator Okwui Enwezor opened documenta 11 in 2002, of which he was artistic director, his postcolonial approach was considered radical. Twenty years later, the theme has arrived in the art and culture world. The Sharjah Biennial 15: Thinking Historically in the Present now adds another perspective to the discussion. In the fast-growing megacity of Sharjah in the United Arab Emirates, the local colonization story is representative of many Arab fates during the biennial. More than 150 artists − some in collectives − from over 70 countries are participating in Sharjah Biennial 15. It runs from Feb. 7 to June 11 and is free to the public.
Pioneering curator Enwezor conceived the concept, which curator Hoor Al Qasimi further developed and is now implementing. Enwezor died in 2019 as a result of cancer. The highlight of his career was considered to be the artistic direction of the 56th Venice Biennale (2015), which focused on political ideas. Enwezor was also director of the Haus der Kunst in Munich from 2011 to 2018.
