Dakar Biennale

The Dakar Biennale, or Dak'Art - Biennale de l'Art Africain Contemporain, is a major contemporary art exhibition that takes place once every two years in Dakar, Senegal. Dak'Art's focus has been on Contemporary African Art since 1996.

Dak'Art - Dakar Biennale
Dak'Art - Biennale de l'Art Africain Contemporain
Genrebiennale, focus on contemporary art and contemporary African art
Begins1990 (literature), 1992 visual art
Frequencybiennale, every two years
Location(s)Dakar, Senegal
FounderSenegalese government
Organised byGeneral secretary of the Dakar Biennale

History

The Dakar Biennale was conceived in 1989 as a biennale alternating between literature and art. The first edition in 1990 was focused on literature and in 1992 on visual art. In 1993 the structure of the biennale was transformed and Dak'Art 1996 became an exhibition specifically devoted to Contemporary African Art. In 1998 the structure was consolidated and in 2000 there was considerable change: Abdoulaye Wade was elected president of Senegal a few months before the opening of the event. The new president confirmed the support of the Senegalese government for the event and since 2000, Dak'Art has taken place bi-annually. Dak'Art 2002 was characterized by new staff and new partners. Dak'Art 2004 received more international visitors and wider press coverage; during the opening the president announced his intention to organise a new edition of the World Festival of Black Arts. For the first time an artistic director was appointed for Dak'Art 2006 and the event was organised with the participation of many artists and a more consistent budget. In 2008 the biennale decelerated. The event took place on a smaller budget and was organised at the last minute. In 2010 the European Commission - a major financial partner - did not support the event. In December the third edition of the World Festival of Black Arts was organised in Dakar. The 2014 edition was curated by Abdelkader Damani, Elise Atangana and Ugochukwu-Smooth Nzewi.[1] The 2016 and 2018 editions were both curated by Simon Njami.[2]

Dak'Art is the African continent's longest running grand-scale art event. In 2014, it was opened to non-African nationals for the first time, with the exhibition 'Cultural Diversity' at the IFAN Theodore Monod Museum including invited internationals.[3]

Editions
Taxi Taf-Taf by Dominique Zinkpè, Bénin presented at the Dak'Art 2002
  • 1990 Dakar Biennale 1990. First edition focused on literature.
  • 1992 Dak'Art 1992. First edition focused on visual art.
  • 1996 Dak'Art 1996. First edition focused on Contemporary African Art.
  • 1998 Dak'Art 1998. Third edition.
  • 2000 Dak'Art 2000. Fourth edition.
  • 2002 Dak'Art 2002. Fifth edition.
  • 2004 Dak'Art 2004. Sixth edition.
  • 2006 Dak'Art 2006. Seventh edition and first edition with an artistic director.
  • 2008 Dak'Art 2008. Eighth edition.
  • 2010 Dak'Art 2010. Ninth edition and twentieth anniversary.
  • 2012 Dak'Art 2012. Tenth edition.
  • 2014 Dak'Art 2014. Eleventh edition.[4]
  • 2016 Dak'Art 2016. Twelfth edition.[5]
  • 2018 Dak'Art 2018. Thirteenth edition.[6]

Bibliography

See also

References
  1. Stielau, Anna, "Dak'art 2014: At a crossroads - The Postcolonialist", postcolonialist.com, retrieved 2016-03-20
  2. Davis, Melissa. "Dak'Art 2018". Sugarcane Magazine.
  3. "The Dakar Biennale 2014 by Olga Speakes Anna Stielau on 20 June | Artthrob". artthrob.co.za. Retrieved 2016-03-20.
  4. "Dak'Art 2014 Makes Contemporary African Art Visible | Another Africa". www.anotherafrica.net. Retrieved 2016-03-20.
  5. Dak'Art 2016, Contemporary And
  6. Blackmore, Kara. "Getting into Dak'Art 2018". Biennal Foundation.
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