Dak’Art 2024: what is the Dakar Biennale?

The fifteenth edition of the contemporary African Art biennial starts this Thursday, November 7, 2024 until December 7 in Dakar, the Senegalese capital. It is placed under the theme “The Wake” or “Awakening”.

This edition highlights the challenges African artists face, such as issues of social justice, environment and cultural identity.

In her concept note, the artistic director of the event, Salimata Diop explains that this theme is about linking the past and the future by giving them equal importance.

This theme is partially inspired by the work In the Wake : On Blackness and Black Being by Professor Christina Sharpe who examines the black condition, its literary, visual and artistic representations, in relation to the notions of exhumation, mourning and uprooting.

“We will navigate through what the term wake (awakening, wake, wake, gindiku) evokes, which deploys a rich semantic range ultimately offering a cultural and metaphorical bridge between art and society. »

Through their works, the creators address various subjects, ranging from the economic and social realities of the continent to spiritual and aesthetic aspirations. This theme also aims to celebrate the ability of African artists to overcome obstacles to find a place on the international scene.

In terms of innovations, for this 15th edition the “Great Witness”carried by the Kenyan artist, ???????????????????????????????? ????????????????, offers a large-scale installation. If we are to believe the artistic director of the biennial Madame Salimata Diop: “It is a large-scale installation, something new and relevant”

Dak’Art was conceived in 1989 as a biennial alternating literature and art. The biennial was created thanks to the joint will of the Senegalese State which assumes supervision, and local artists who have organized regular annual exhibitions since the 1970s.

The latter highlight the different forms of evolution of contemporary artistic creation. The objective was to make it a showcase of art and literature in Africa.

The first edition, in 1990, was devoted to literature and that of 1992 to the visual arts. After two editions, the decision was made to focus the event exclusively on visual arts and design with a small-scale exhibition devoted to textiles and tapestry. Today, digital arts take their place in DAK’ART.

The Dakar Biennale is thus part of the same traditions as Venice (1895), Sao Paulo (1951), Havana (1984). Dak’Art is holding its fourteenth edition from May 19 to June 21, 2022.

It has made it possible to reveal many African artists.

Dak’Art has sparked vocations and also helped to strengthen the credibility and notoriety of various stakeholders: curators, art critics, cultural journalists, gallery managers, scenographers, etc.

Many events on contemporary art in Africa and outside the continent are also inspired by the experience of Dak’Art.

The State of Senegal is committed to a successful and inclusive biennial

With a budget of 1 billion 800 million CFA francs mobilized by the State, the Dakar Biennale, one of the biggest events in the world of modern African art, is “a matter of the State of Senegal and it will remain so, because it is he who will have to decide whether to hold it or not. It is also he who has the possibility of defining the terms and content,” said Khady Diène Gaye, the Minister of Culture.

The private sector also contributed around 291 million CFA francs. The Minister of Culture also indicates that some of her counterparts, such as the ministers in charge of Culture of Guinea-Bissau and Mali, are also expected at Dak’art 2024.

For this edition, underlines Khady Diène Gaye, an orientation was given to be able to “democratize” the biennial and ensure that the event is no longer perceived as an affair reserved for a certain elite, a luxury affair. Thus, a toddlers’ corner was set up at the former Cap Manuel courthouse in order to introduce children to works of art and artistic creation very early on.

IN and “OFF” are integral parts of the cultural event

Since 2002, the OFF is a key feature of this event. In addition to the official exhibition with the participation of selected artists, the Dak’Art OFF gives the opportunity to all actors in art and culture to present their work without limits of quality, nationality or criteria of gender.

The OFF of the Dakar Contemporary African Art Biennial is made up of autonomous artistic events organized around the central event and capitalizes on average two hundred and fifty (250) projects.

And the “IN” section of this 15th edition with its 58 selected artists. Likewise, the design section, which has not been in the running for several years, marks its return with curator Ousmane Mbaye and the tribute to the coaster artist Anta Germaine Gaye and the late Ndoye Douts.

The shutter IN of the Dakar Biennale takes on more of an educational status and combines business with pleasure with activities for students, workshops and round tables with actors from here and elsewhere, concerts among others.

Still as part of the IN program for this 15th edition, around 70 artists from Africa and the diaspora will exhibit their works in the most emblematic spaces of Dakar, such as the Museum of Black Civilizations and the National Art Gallery. This selection includes both established artists and new talents. This demonstrates the diversity of approaches and mediums explored by contemporary African creators.

If we are to believe Idrissa DIALLO, exhibition curator at the biennial space, ”The biennial space offers Varied routes which celebrate African and international creativity in multiple forms. The OFF program allows us to highlight emerging and established artists”.

And despite being postponed, this 15th edition of the Dakar biennial promises in terms of innovation with digitalization. Idrissa DIALLO believes that this year, the OFF program of the Biennale is particularly rich, with more than 450 exhibitions spread throughout the city, offering a wide range of contemporary artistic expressions. These exhibitions include not only paintings, but also installations, photographs, sculptures, performances and multimedia works, allowing visitors to discover the diversity of current artistic talents and practices.

And to facilitate access and discovery of these multiple exhibitions, an application was developed this year. ”It centralizes all information on OFF events and provides descriptions of exhibitions, interactive maps, timetables, as well as practical information to allow visitors to find their way more easily and not miss anything from this rich and informative edition. abundant”.

Dakar is today a major capital of contemporary art in Africa, notably thanks to its Contemporary Art Biennale, which has existed for more than 30 years. This longevity gives Dakar an essential place in the African artistic landscape, attracting a wide range of creators, collectors, curators and art lovers from around the world. The Biennale, but also the dynamism of local institutions, galleries and alternative spaces, has made it possible to consolidate Dakar as a true artistic hub in West Africa, where solid links are forged between African and international cultures.

Idrissa DIALLO underlines ”that in terms of positioning, Dakar is not only a a place of visibility for African artists, but also a crossroads of exchange and reflection. The city has played a pioneering role in offering a leading platform for contemporary African artistic expressions while allowing artists to be part of a global dialogue. Exhibitions at the Biennale often address contemporary issues from migration to questions of identity, including globalization, which places Dakar in an aesthetic, social and political reflection.

Over the years, Dakar has also favored the emergence of a more structured artistic ecosystem, with artist residencies, educational projects, and growing support for young talents. This influence of Dakar in the visual arts positions the city as a cultural metropolis which not only reflects the aspirations of contemporary African art, but also contributes to shaping the future of this art throughout the world.

Contemporary art in Africa is booming, with increasingly promising prospects for growth and recognition. On the continent, the rise of new galleries, museums and biennials, as well as increased support from local collectors and patrons, is strengthening artistic networks and creating opportunities for African artists to express themselves on an international scale.

On a global scale, the former director of the Arts Village explains that contemporary African art ”is attracting growing interest, particularly at major international fairs and exhibitions. African artists are increasingly present on the world stage, and their work is recognized for its conceptual and aesthetic richness. Future prospects include an even stronger integration of African artists into the global art market.

Additionally, digital technologies and social media allow artists to share their work directly with a global audience, expanding opportunities for visibility and cultural exchange. This digital transformation, coupled with a dynamic art scene on the continent, promises to make Africa a major player in contemporary art of the 21st century, with expressions that influence, enrich and diversify art on a global scale. .