Creating Space for Enwezor’s Curatorial Vision

Selene Wendt’s review “Creating Space for Enwezor’s Curatorial Vision” addresses a small selection of the many works featured in Sharjah Biennial 15 (SB15). Conceived by Okwui Enwezor and curated by Hoor Al Qasimi, SB15 included more than one hundred and fifty artists and collectives, over three hundred works in a variety of mediums, and numerous performances that took place in multiple venues. Building on Enwezor’s biennial concept and the many conversations she had with him during his lifetime, Al Qasimi created a space where Enwezor’s curatorial vision flourished. The profound influence of his groundbreaking approach to curating was omnipresent. Wendt focuses on artists who worked closely with Enwezor, including María Magdalena Campos-Pons, Isaac Julien, Ibrahim Mahama, Yinka Shonibare, and Carrie Mae Weems, among others. Additionally, Wendt highlights artists whom he may not have worked with, yet whose artistic practices and perspectives still honor the legacy of a curator who shifted the world’s understanding of how contemporary art could break free from Eurocentric modes of thinking to convey new narratives, perspectives, histories, and futures. This review honors the legacy of Okwui Enwezor while also acknowledging the impact of Al Qasimi’s curatorial approach, which extended beyond the initial exhibition concept in ways that make SB15 a milestone event.