Dakar Biennale Curators Fired?
Sunday, January 20, 2008
There is a very gentle rumour that Dak'art 2008 has fired all it's curators, and replaced them with government appointed ones more likely to toe the line. With only a couple of month's before the May 9th opening, and the call for submissions already closed, it seems an odd move. However, the Dak'Art site mentions nothing, so maybe this is just an unsubstantiated rumour. Then again, the site barely seems to have been updated since 2006, which does not bode well. Can anyone clarify?
posted by Robert Sloon at 2:40 PM
4 Comments:
I can, but I am scared you will delete my comment.
whinge whinge whinge
the situation is more complicated than just curators getting sacked - for many years the Senegalese government has been trying to resurrect Senghor's World Festival of Negro Arts - which would be in direct competition with the Biennale (ideologically and financially) so it is most likely a simple tussle at the moment between bureaucrats (Senghorian disciples) and the small, but very vocal and politicized contemporary art community.
One of the people who chaired at the AICA conference was an ex Dakar curator. He was a really truly deeply impressive person. Like one wishes to encounter but seldom does in this shallow creepy world. Wherever he is now, I wish him well.
Post a Comment
Links to this post:
Create a Link
<< Home