The morning sun is bright but I’m surprised by how cool the air is. Arriving early at Al Mureijah Square, I realise I’m underclad for my first tour of Sharjah Biennial 16 (SB16). Titled to carry, the Biennial presents over 650 works by nearly 200 artists, including Alia Farid, Citra Sasmita, and Himali Singh Soin. Thankfully, shortly before noon, the day begins to warm up. Co-curated by Alia Swastika, Amal Khalaf, Megan Tamati-Quennell, Natasha Ginwala, and Zeynep Öz, SB16 explores what we carry—physically, emotionally, and historically—through a discursive lens shaped by myriad voices. Spanning 17 venues across the Emirate of Sharjah, the ambitious programme unfolds through exhibitions, performances, music, and film. With so much to see and experience, Something Curated has compiled a concise guide highlighting 12 standout projects not to be missed.
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Rossella Biscotti’s latest projects delve into nature as both a resource and a battleground, examining themes of trade, colonialism, and migration. Saturated Salty Mud Stories (2025) amalgamates three bodies of work into a single installation. Circulations transforms oil and gas pipelines into sprawling sculptures, nodding to the UAE’s energy economy. Oil Vessels: Time Smuggling Geometry reimagines ancient Islamic oil and perfume containers in glass—perhaps the most compelling element of the presentation—while Sand Portables experiments with ceramics and glazes, developed with ceramist Maia Beyrouti using materials partially foraged in Sharjah.