“Contemporary creation and social dynamics”
The theme chosen for this edition stands as a pretext to examine, through various angles, the dialogue contemporary artists engage with a social environment in constant change.
International exhibition:
42 artists 16 females, 26 males from 21 African countries and Reunion Island have been selected by the selection committee:
Adel Marwa (Egypt), Alleck Nirveda (Mauritius), Assie Romaric (Ivory Coast), Ba Cheikhou (Senegal), Baba-Ali Younes (Morocco), Baker Bridget (South Africa), Beckett James (South Africa), Caranda-Martin Doughba Hamilton (Liberia), Chachage Rehema (Tanzania), Cissé Mamadou (Senegal), Diallo Bakary (Mali), Emmanuel Paul (South Africa), Eyongakpa Em’Kal (Cameroon), Fatmi Mounir (Morocco), Foli Jessica (South Africa), Goliath Gabrielle (South Africa), Hoareau Stéphanie (France – Reunion Island), Kameli Katia (Algeria), Kimani Wanja (Kenya), Konan Pascal (Ivory Coast), Lamrani Jamila (Morocco), Mba Bikoro Nathalie (Gabon), Modisakeng Mohau (South Africa), Modum Chika (Nigeria), Mteki Nancy (Zimbabwe), Mutelekesha Victor (Zambia), Nasr Moataz (Egypt), Ndiaye Cheikh (Senegal) Ngqinambi Ndikhumbule (South Africa), Niang Ibrahima Piniang (Senegal), Nsengiyumva Laura (Rwanda), Ramanankirahina Amalia (Madagascar), Sagna Henri (Senegal), Segueda Léopold (Burkina Faso), Seydi Mamady (Senegal), Shadi Lerato (South Africa), Sinzogan Julien (Benin), Tabti Oussama (Algeria), Tundula Christian (DRC), Youmbi Hervé (Cameroon), Zaidi Rafik (Algeria), Zouggar Sofiane (Algeria).
In addition to the international exhibition presenting artists from several African countries and the diaspora at the Musée Théodore Monod, an exhibition at the Galerie Nationale will feature three invited artists: Peter Clarke, Goddy Leye and Berni Searle.
Spain will be honoured with a presentation of architects and visual artists at Maison de la Culture Douta Seck. Finally, two exhibitions will pay homage to pioneering artists Papa Ibra Tall et Joe Ouakam.
Curators of Dak’Art 2012
Christine Eyene is an independent curator and art critic currently working with Autograph ABP, London. In 2011 she was curator of the African section of the 3rd edition of ‘Photoquai – Biennial of World Images’, Musée du Quai Branly, Paris and ‘Gwanza – Month of Photography’, National Gallery of Zimbabwe, Harare.
Her current exhibitions are: ‘Reflections on the Self: Five African Women Photographers’, Hayward Touring, UK (2011-2014) and ‘Women Speak Out’, Dakar and touring Africa (2011-2012). Previous projects include ‘FOCUS – Contemporary Art Africa’, as part of Art Basel Public Programme, Switzerland (2010-2011).
As an art critic she has contributed to Africultures, Art South Africa, Basler Zeitung, Manifesta Journal, Third Text, and written essays in art books and exhibition catalogues.
Eyene has been member of jury of Fondation Blachère Prize at the Bamako Encounters 2007, 2009 and Dak’Art Biennial 2008, 2010. She currently sits in the selection committees of Art Moves Africa and Visa for Creation, Institut Français.
Website: eyonart.blogspot.com
Nadira Laggoune is curator and art critic. She graduated in Law and holds a Master in audiovisual criticism and art theory. A doctoral researcher, she is currently assistant lecturer at the Ecole Supérieure des Beaux-arts in Algiers.
Laggoune has been member of numerous art jury in Algeria and abroad, including the Arab Fund for Art and Culture (AFAC). Today she is a permanent member of the Fond Algérien d’Aide à la Production Cinématographique and AICA.
She has written extensively on contemporary art, especially Algerian art, as well as gender. She has curated many international and local exhibitions including the 2nd Panafrican Festival, Algiers 2009 and the International Festival of Contemporary Art (FIAC), Algiers 2009 and 2011.
Nadira Laggoune lives and works in Algiers where she strives to give visibility to emerging artists in Algeria and on the African continent.
Riason Naidoo was born in 1970 in Chatsworth (Durban), South Africa. He has BA and MA in Fine Art from University of the Witwatersrand. Riason has curated several photographic exhibitions dealing with the archives − most notably on the work of photographer Ranjith Kally shown at the 6th Bamako Encounters (2005), and included a tour to Reunion Island, − and more recently the exhibition entitled The Indian in DRUM magazine in the 1950s shown at museums in South Africa.
He most recently directed the South Africa-Mali Project: Timbuktu Manuscripts project for the South African Presidency and the Department of Arts & Culture, also NEPAD’s first cultural project. He has previously been in charge of artistic projects at the French Institute of South Africa (IFAS) in Johannesburg; taught drawing, painting and art history in the Department of Architecture at the University of Witwatersrand; and worked as Education Officer at the Durban Art Gallery. He has been on exchanges to the MS University of Baroda in India (1997) and the Museum of Contemporary Art of Bordeaux in France (2001).
He is currently director of the South African National Gallery and the Old Town House museums, part of Iziko Museums based in Cape Town. He recently curated 1910-2010: From Pierneef to Gugulective, that showcased a century of South African art at the South African National Gallery. He has also worked as an artist in painting and new media.
Dak’Art 2012 will take place from 11 May – 10 June 2012.