Sharjah Biennale 12, one of established and most celebrated biennales in the region since 1993, is due to launch March 5, 2015 until June 5, 2015 titled The past, the present, the possible in Arts Area, Sharjah, United Arab Emirates, curated by Eungie Joo & Ryan Inouye as  associate curator.   announced today.

Sharjah Biennial 12 (SB12) began to take shape in a private conversation between artist Danh Vo and curator Eungie Joo in early 2013. Together they discussed the relevance of contemporary art and the potential of artistic positions to imagine something beyond current states of social and political confinement—and the need for artists to play active roles in imagining the possible.

While archeological research confirms the presence of humans in this region over 150,000 years ago, Sharjah—as a city, an emirate and a member of a relatively young federation—is still in the process of imagining itself through education, culture, religion, heritage and science. SB12 will invite more than fifty artists and cultural practitioners from approximately twenty-five countries to participate in this process by introducing their ideas of the possible through their art and work.

SB12 will be on view from March 5 – June 5, 2015, with opening events taking place March 5 – 8. A vital component of Sharjah Art Foundation’s annual programming, March Meeting 2015 will take place in mid-May, exact dates forthcoming. SB12 will also feature a monthly talks series in Sharjah beginning in September 2014.

Since 1993, Sharjah Biennial has commissioned, produced and presented large-scale public installations, performances and films, offering artists from the region and beyond an internationally recognised platform for exhibition and experimentation.

About Eungie Joo

Eungie Joo is Director of Art and Cultural Programs at Instituto Inhotim in Brumadinho, Brasil. Previously, she was Director and Curator of Education and Public Programs at the New Museum, New York (2007–2012) where she commissioned the yearlong seminar Night School by Anton Vidokle; edited Rethinking Contemporary Art and Multicultural Education (Routledge and New Museum, 2009); published the Art Spaces Directory (ArtAsiaPacific and New Museum, 2012); and curated The Ungovernables (2012). Joo presented Condensation: Haegue Yang at the Korean Pavilion in the 53rd Venice Biennale (2009). As founding Director and Curator of the Gallery at REDCAT, Los Angeles (2003–2007), she commissioned projects by Mark Bradford, Damián Ortega, Sora Kim, Taro Shinoda, SUPERFLEX, Kara Walker, Apichatpong Weerasethakul, and others.

About Sharjah Artndation

SAF brings a broad range of contemporary art and cultural programmes to Sharjah, the UAE, and the region. Since 2009, SAF has built on the history of cultural collaboration and exchange that began with the first Sharjah Biennial in 1993. Working with local and international partners, SAF creates opportunities for artists and artistic production through core initiatives that include the Sharjah Biennial, the annual March Meeting, residencies, production grants, commissions, exhibitions, research, publications, and a growing collection. SAF’s education and public programmes focus on building recognition of the central role art can play in the life of a community by promoting public learning and a participatory approach to art. For more information, go to:  Sharjah Art Foundation.