Biennial Bytes

• EP13: Mahmoud Khaled x Zeynep Öz

  In a wide-ranging conversation with Zeynep Öz, artist Mahmoud Khaled reflects on artistic solitude, futurity and ceremonies that accompany the unveiling of mega architectural projects. Khaled discusses the conceptual origins of his Sharjah Biennial 16 commission: 'Pool of Perspectives – 2030’ (2025), which was drawn from a nineteenth century ‘orientalist’ painting, modern poetry and classical Portuguese azulejo tiles.Tune in to learn about Khaled’s exploration of archives and modes of abstraction, and listen to a recording from his production of ‘Pool of Perspectives – 2030’. CREDITS Host: Zeynep Öz Guest: Mahmoud Khaled Editorial and Content Strategy: Jyoti Dhar, Kamayani Sharma and Mahshid Rafiei Podcast Producer: Kamayani Sharma Sound Engineer: Basil Kisswani Shownotes: Rosalyn D’Mello, Kamayani Sharma, Rajwant Sandhu and Jyoti Dhar Music and Sound: Excerpt from recording during the production of ‘Pool of Perspectives – 2030’ (2025) Special Thanks: Nawar Al Qassimi, Jiwon Lee, May Rashid and Meera Madhu © Sharjah Art Foundation, 2025 This episode was recorded on 19 November 2024.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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• 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.

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• EP11: Pratchaya Phinthong x Alia Swastika

  Artist Pratchaya Phinthong speaks to Alia Swastika about his interest in mitigating the impact of the global climate crisis and the generative possibilities of research-based, contextual practice. Tune in to hear more about his collaborative project ‘We are lived by powers we pretend to understand’ (2024), commissioned for Sharjah Biennial 16 which included hand-carved granite stones bearing the patterns of solar panel grids being placed around Sharjah’s public spaces. Phintong tells us about how he organised this ecological initiative—involving scientists, divers, coral activists and UAE-based environmental policy makers—to extract coral from a heritage wall to resurrect reef structures. CREDITS Host: Alia Swastika Guest: Pratchaya Phinthong Editorial and Content Strategy: Jyoti Dhar, Kamayani Sharma and Mahshid Rafiei Podcast Producer: Kamayani Sharma Sound Engineer: Basil Kisswani Show Notes: Rosalyn D'Mello, Kamayani Sharma and Jyoti Dhar Music and Sound: Excerpt from field recording for 'We are lived by the powers we pretend to understand' (2024) by Pratchaya Phinthong Special Thanks: Nawar Al Qassimi, Jiwon Lee, Sara Al Mheiri and Khalid Mohammed © Sharjah Art Foundation, 2025 This episode was recorded on 2 September 2024. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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• 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.

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• 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.

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