Biennial Bytes

Sharjah Art Foundation

Biennial Bytes is the official podcast of Sharjah Biennial. Bringing the Biennial to life for culture enthusiasts around the world, the podcast delves into the work of some of the most prominent artists practising today.  Subscribe and listen to new episodes every week.

  1. EP15: Sakiya (Nida Sinnokrot and Sahar Qawasmi) x Natasha Ginwala

    05/26/2025

    EP15: Sakiya (Nida Sinnokrot and Sahar Qawasmi) x Natasha Ginwala

    Artists Nida Sinnokrot and Sahar Qawasmi of the collective Sakiya talk to Natasha Ginwala about their participatory ecological practice based in Ein Qiniya, a village near Ramallah. Sinnokrot and Qawasmi speak about the importance of keeping alive sustainable relationships to occupied lands through ancestral systems of knowledge as well as the need to equitably share resources, not just between humans but all of life. Discussing their SB16 works, they reflect on how the sculpture series ‘Water Witnesses’ (2020–ongoing) speaks to the interconnectedness of water, sound and infrastructure and how the installation ‘Capital Coup’ (2024)—which interprets the US Capitol Building as a chicken coop—comments ironically on ideas of security and governance. Tune in to find out more about Sakiya’s work, rooted in experimental pedagogy, residencies and research programmes. ‘Water Witnesses’ and ‘Capital Coup’ are on view at the Old Al Jubail Vegetable Market in Sharjah City as part of Sharjah Biennial 16 (6 February to 15 June 2025).   CREDITS   Host: Natasha Ginwala   Guest: Sakiya (Nida Sinnokrot and Sahar Qawasmi)   Editorial and Content Strategy: Jyoti Dhar, Kamayani Sharma, Mahshid Rafiei   Podcast Producer: Kamayani Sharma   Sound Engineer: Basil Kisswani   Shownotes: Rajwant Sandhu, Kamayani Sharma   Special Thanks: Nawar Al Qassimi, Jiwon Lee, Amal Al Ali and Osemudiamen Ekore   © Sharjah Art Foundation, 2025 This episode was recorded on 28 January 2025. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    38 min
  2. EP12: Adelita Husni-Bey x Amal Khalaf

    05/05/2025

    EP12: Adelita Husni-Bey x Amal Khalaf

    Amal Khalaf and Adelita Husni-Bey discuss climate crisis, critical pedagogy and what it means to learn with one’s body. Together they reflect on Husni-Bey's SB16 projects—the film installation ‘Like A Flood’ (2025) and the sculptures ‘Hunger Stones’ (2025). The artist and educator shares insights on working through colonial archives, radical theatre and poetry workshops, as well as addressing the idea of climate adaptability. Tune in to hear more about Husni-Bey’s practice, and listen to a sound exercise recorded during the making of ‘Like A Flood’. ‘Like a Flood’ is on view at Kalba Ice Factory and ‘Hunger Stones’ are placed both within and beyond the Biennial’s venues from 6 February to 15 June 2025.   CREDITS  Host: Amal Khalaf Guest: Adelita Husni-Bey  Editorial and Content Strategy: Jyoti Dhar, Kamayani Sharma and Mahshid Rafiei Podcast Producer: Kamayani Sharma Sound Engineer: Basil Kisswani Show Notes: Rajwant Sandhu, Kamayani Sharma and Jyoti Dhar. Music and Sound: Recording from production of ‘Like A Flood’ (2025) by Adelita Husni-Bey Special Thanks: Nawar Al Qassimi, Jiwon Lee, Abdulla Aljanahi and Raja’a Khalid © Sharjah Art Foundation, 2025 Commissioned by Sharjah Art Foundation and made possible thanks to the Italian Council Programme (2024), with the support of Alserkal Arts Foundation, Dubai. This episode was recorded on 3 December 2024. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    33 min
  3. EP10: Naeem Mohaiemen x Natasha Ginwala 

    04/21/2025

    EP10: Naeem Mohaiemen x Natasha Ginwala 

    Natasha Ginwala speaks with filmmaker Naeem Mohaiemen about themes such as death, displacement and cinematic time.  Mohaiemen discusses his multilayered practice across photography, drawing and essays intertwining historical archives, political and personal stories spanning multiple geographies, from Bangladesh to Libya and Greece. In particular, he recalls a Bengali phrase by Nirmal Sen that translates to ‘we want the guarantee of a natural death’, an idea that echoes through his works presented at SB16: ‘Jole Dobe Na’ (Those Who Do Not Drown)’ (2020), ‘Karen’s Last Books’ (2023) and ‘Jamahiriya Means People: Okba ibn Nafa’ (2024). Listen to a song from ‘Jole Dobe Na’ and their discussion on these works. ‘Jole Dobe Na', ‘Karen’s Last Books’ and ‘Jamhariya Means People: Okba ibn Nafa’ are on view at Bait Al Serkal from 6 February to 15 June 2025.   CREDITS Host: Natasha Ginwala    Guest: Naeem Mohaiemen     Editorial and Content Strategy: Jyoti Dhar, Kamayani Sharma and Mahshid Rafiei   Podcast Producer: Kamayani Sharma   Sound Engineer: Basil Kisswani   Show Notes: Rajwant Sandhu and Suguna Sridhar   Music and Sound: Excerpt from ‘Jole Dobe Na’ (Those Who Do Not Drown)’ (2020)   Special Thanks: Nawar Al Qassimi, Jiwon Lee, Amal Al Ali and Osemudiamen Ekore    © Sharjah Art Foundation, 2025   This episode was recorded on 31 August 2024.   ‘Jamhariya Means People: Okba ibn Nafa’ is supported by Sharjah Art Foundation and Experimenter, Kolkata/ Mumbai. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    36 min
  4. EP09: Ana Iti x Megan Tamati-Quennell

    04/14/2025

    EP09: Ana Iti x Megan Tamati-Quennell

    Megan Tamati-Quennell speaks with Māori artist Ana Iti about the environments, sites and structures—such as Hokianga, the artist’s tribal landscape—evoked in her sonic and sculptural installations. Text and language run through her practice, including her Sharjah Biennial 16 commission ‘A hybrid made of both’ (2025), an installation that explores the historical and technological transition of te reo Māori from the spoken to the written form. Together, Iti and Tamati-Quennell discuss the responsibility of conserving te reo Māori as form of resistance against erasure. Tune in to learn more about Iti’s research and the role of writing in her creative process, and to hear a field recording from ‘A resilient heart like mānawa’.  ‘A resilient heart like mānawa’ is on view at Kalba Ice Factory, and ‘A hybrid made of both’ and ‘A dusty handrail on the track’ (2021) are on view at Old Al Dhaid Clinic from 6 February to 15 June 2025.   CREDITS Host: Megan Tamati-Quennell Guest: Ana Iti Editorial and Content Strategy: Jyoti Dhar, Kamayani Sharma and Mahshid Rafiei Producer: Kamayani Sharma Sound Engineer: Basil Kisswani Shownotes: Mahshid Rafiei Music and Sound: Excerpt from ‘A resilient heart like mānawa’ (2024) by Ana Iti Special Thanks: Nawar Al Qassimi, Jiwon Lee and Reem Sawan © Sharjah Art Foundation, 2025 This episode was recorded on 5 November 2024. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    34 min

Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
3 Ratings

About

Biennial Bytes is the official podcast of Sharjah Biennial. Bringing the Biennial to life for culture enthusiasts around the world, the podcast delves into the work of some of the most prominent artists practising today.  Subscribe and listen to new episodes every week.