Biennial Bytes

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.

Kapulani Landgraf is a Kānaka Maoli artist from Pūʻahuʻula, Kāneʻohe, Oʻahu. In this episode, she speaks about the responsibility to engage in creative forms of resistance against the destruction and erosion of the ‘āina’—which encompasses her peoples’ land and its living entities, spiritual world, oral and written traditions, ancestry and future.
She talks to Megan Tamati-Quennell about embracing the camera as a ‘weapon’ against cultural erasure and the impetus behind ‘Nā Wahi Kapu O Maui’ (1997–2003), her photographic series documenting Maui’s sacred sites.
Tune in to find out about the artist’s research process and hear an excerpt from a Hawai’ian oli [chant].
‘Nā Wahi Kapu O Maui’ is on view at Al Mureijah Square, Sharjah, until 15 June 2025.

CREDITS

Host: Megan Tamati-Quennell

Guest: Kapulani Landgraf

Editorial and Content Strategy: Jyoti Dhar, Kamayani Sharma, Mahshid Rafiei

Podcast Producer: Kamayani Sharma

Sound Engineer: Basil Kisswani

Shownotes: Rosalyn D’Mello, Kamayani Sharma

Music and Sound: Excerpt from a recording by Kapulani Landgraf of an oli titled ‘Aha Mo'olelo’ by Lilikala Kame'eleihiwa and Kealii Gora.

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.

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.

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.

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.