Art biennales in the MENA reflect the region’s changing identity, art history as history.

Art Biennales in the Arab world are perceived as gateways to explore the rich and varied cultural heritage and contemporary art scene of these countries, while also providing insights into the social and political changes and challenges facing this part of the world.

Within the context of the changing identity of many Arab countries, due to the rise of oil, wars and civil unrest, and economic downturns, art biennales are reflective in their spaces and the art they showcase of that transformation. With the Sharjah Biennale (1993) becoming a leading event in the art world, a closer examination of the position of Arab biennales can offer insights into evolving structures of the global art world.

Arab art biennales can be seen as acts of resistance and a way to challenge dominant narratives about the Arab world. Arab art is often seen as exotic or peripheral, but biennales can showcase the diversity and complexity of the artistic output of the region, and the distinctive voice of each of its nations. These biennales have played a crucial role in challenging stereotypes, promoting cultural exchange, and providing a space for critical discourse on the complexities of contemporary Arab identities and artistic expressions.

Biennales tell the story of the creative and artistic practice of the Arab Art Biennales as an interactive history of an evolving and dynamic region.

Historical Context:

Art biennales have been around since the end of the 19th century, the most famous examples being Documenta (1955), The Venice Biennale (1895), and Bienal de São Paulo (1970). of 1 8 November 2023 Arab art biennales have a relatively short history, dating back to the 1950s. The first Arab art biennale was held in Alexandria, Egypt, in 1955. The event was organized by the Egyptian Ministry of Culture and was intended to showcase the work of Arab artists from across the region. The Alexandria Biennale was followed by a number of other biennales in the MENA region, including the Baghdad Biennale (1974), and the Beirut Biennale (1970). In the 1990s and 2000s, there was a boom in the number of Arab art biennales. This was due to a number of factors, including the rise of a new generation of Arab artists, the growing interest in Arab culture in the global art world, and the increasing availability of funding for cultural events from Gulf countries. The Arab world and the wider MENA region are undergoing a period of rapid change, and this reflects in the art that is being produced and exhibited as well as the very structure and spaces of Arab art biennales. With the inception of two Saudi Arabia Art Biennales, Riyadh will be welcoming a new edition of the Diriyah Contemporary Art Biennale in 2024 with the second edition of the Islamic Arts Biennale scheduled to take place in Jeddah in 2025, and the cancellation of the Marrakesh biennale in 2016 due to funding, these colossal art showcases reflect the changing faces of the Arab world.

Despite the growing importance of art biennales in the Middle East, there is a lack of research and scholarship on this topic. This is due in part to the fact that a number of the region’s biennales are relatively new, and in part to the challenges of carrying out research in a region that is undergoing political, economic, and social transformation. This project aims to conduct comprehensive research on the role and impact of art biennales in the Middle East as dynamic platforms for cultural expression, regional dialogue, and the intersection of tradition and modernity.

Such research should be conducted in a framework that deploys a transnational, decolonial or cross-cultural approach and engages with critical theories of gender, class, race, space, materiality, and performance. As major international exhibitions held every two years, biennales provide important platforms for artists to gain exposure, and for discourse around contemporary art practices. As biennales have become increasingly transnational in recent years, reflecting the growing mobility of Arab artists and the increasing global interest in Arab art, and with Arab Gulf nations seeking to diversify, promoting cultural diplomacy, and a transition to a creative economy, the significance of art biennales bear specific significance