Africa's premier and longest-running international biennale dedicated to showcasing contemporary art from Africa and its diaspora, fostering dialogue, and promoting cultural exchange on a global stage.
Dak'Art, the Biennale of Contemporary African Art, stands as Africa's oldest and most prestigious international art event, providing a vital platform for artists from the continent and its diaspora to showcase their work to a global audience. Founded in 1992 in Dakar, Senegal, this groundbreaking biennale has played a crucial role in reshaping narratives around African contemporary art and establishing a space where African artists can present their work on their own terms.
The biennale emerged during a pivotal period of cultural and political transformation across Africa, reflecting broader movements toward self-determination and the reclamation of cultural narratives. Under the supervision of the Senegalese government but with significant artistic independence, Dak'Art has evolved from a modest regional exhibition into an internationally recognized event that attracts artists, curators, critics, collectors, and art enthusiasts from around the world.
Through its thematic exhibitions, national participations, and extensive "OFF" program, Dak'Art transforms the city of Dakar into a vibrant showcase of contemporary artistic expression every two years. Beyond presenting artwork, the biennale serves as a crucial platform for critical dialogue, professional development, and cultural exchange, contributing significantly to the ongoing development of contemporary African art infrastructure and discourse.
The roots of Dak'Art can be traced back to the cultural vision of Senegal's first president, Léopold Sédar Senghor, whose philosophy of Négritude emphasized the importance of African cultural expression and identity. While Senghor had organized the First World Festival of Black Arts in Dakar in 1966, it was not until decades later that the biennale concept would take form.
Initially conceived in 1989 as a biennale alternating between literature and art, the first edition in 1990 focused on literature, with the visual arts edition launching in 1992. After these first two iterations, the organizers made a strategic decision to focus exclusively on visual arts, recognizing the need for a dedicated platform for contemporary African visual expression. This shift culminated in the 1996 edition, which officially established Dak'Art as an exhibition specifically devoted to Contemporary African Art.
Over the decades, Dak'Art has evolved significantly in response to changing artistic practices and global contexts. What began as a primarily regional event has expanded to include artists from throughout Africa and its diaspora, reflecting the increasingly transnational nature of contemporary art production. The biennale has also navigated various challenges, including periods of limited funding and political transitions, while maintaining its commitment to showcasing African creativity.
First Dak'Art biennale, focused on literature
First visual arts edition launches, marking the beginning of Dak'Art as we know it today
Transformation into an exhibition specifically devoted to Contemporary African Art
Regularization of the biennale's schedule, with firm commitment from the Senegalese government
First appointment of an artistic director, establishing a new curatorial approach
Simon Njami curates consecutive editions, bringing conceptual continuity to the biennale
14th edition "Ĩ'Ndaffa / Forger / Out of the fire" explores transformation and creativity
15th edition "The Wake – L'Éveil – Xàll wi" curated by Salimata Diop explores awakening and ecological themes
Each edition of Dak'Art explores a central theme that reflects contemporary cultural, social, and political concerns across Africa and beyond. These thematic frameworks provide conceptual coherence to the exhibitions while allowing for diverse artistic interpretations and approaches. The themes often engage with pressing issues facing the continent and the broader world, from postcolonial identity and globalization to environmental sustainability and technological change.
"The Wake – L'Éveil – Xàll wi" (2024) - The 15th edition, curated by Salimata Diop, explored ecological relationships and awakening, inspired in part by Dakar's geographic position by the sea. The exhibition examined how humans interact with their environment, with particular emphasis on water as both connecting force and site of ecological crisis.
"Ĩ'Ndaffa / Forger / Out of the fire" (2022) - Curated by El Hadji Malick Ndiaye, this edition focused on themes of creation, transformation, and forging new realities. Drawing on the Serer word "Ĩ'Ndaffa" (to forge), the biennale explored how artists shape new forms and ideas through their creative practice, particularly relevant after the global pandemic's disruptions.
"The Red Hour" (2018) - Simon Njami's curation borrowed this concept from Aimé Césaire's play "And the dogs were silent," using it to explore themes of emancipation, freedom, and responsibility. The exhibition presented a call to action for artists, institutions, and societies to imagine and enact new possibilities.
Throughout its various iterations, Dak'Art has consistently engaged with several recurring themes:
Exploring the diverse expressions of African identity and the connections between various African cultures and experiences, both on the continent and throughout the diaspora.
Examining the relationship between traditional African artistic forms and contemporary global art practices, highlighting continuities, innovations, and creative tensions.
Challenging Western-centric art narratives and proposing alternative frameworks for understanding contemporary art that center African experiences and knowledge systems.
Addressing the rapid changes occurring in African cities and landscapes, including urbanization, climate change, and resource management, through artistic interventions.
Dak'Art unfolds across multiple venues throughout Dakar, creating a cultural itinerary that invites visitors to explore both contemporary art and the city's diverse urban landscape. This distributed model transforms Dakar into a comprehensive exhibition space, highlighting the dialogue between artistic expression and local context while making the biennale accessible to a broader public.
The biennale typically occupies a range of spaces, including:
The former courthouse serves as the primary exhibition site for recent editions, its imposing colonial-era architecture providing a powerful counterpoint to contemporary African artistic expressions.
This significant new museum, opened in 2018, hosts major exhibitions and national pavilions, its modern facilities designed specifically for presenting cultural artifacts and contemporary art.
A cultural center named after a renowned Senegalese griot, providing exhibition space and serving as an important venue for performances and cultural events during the biennale.
Senegal's National Art Gallery plays a significant role in hosting official biennale exhibitions, particularly those highlighting Senegalese artists or historical retrospectives.
A defining feature of Dak'Art is its extensive "OFF" program, comprising hundreds of independently organized exhibitions, events, and interventions held throughout Dakar and its surroundings. This parallel program has grown exponentially over the years, often featuring more venues and artists than the official exhibition itself.
The OFF provides opportunities for artists who may not be selected for the main exhibition, creates space for experimental approaches, and extends the biennale's reach into diverse neighborhoods and communities. From established galleries and cultural centers to private homes, cafés, and public spaces, the OFF transforms the entire city into an art venue, creating a democratic and accessible platform for artistic expression.
The relationship between the official exhibition and the OFF program reflects the dynamic tension between institutional and grassroots approaches to cultural production that characterizes much of contemporary African art. Together, they create a comprehensive and multifaceted experience that captures the vibrancy and diversity of the contemporary art scene.
Throughout its history, Dak'Art has showcased countless significant projects and provided a platform for many artists who have gone on to achieve international recognition. The Grand Prize Léopold Sédar Senghor, awarded at each edition, has highlighted particularly outstanding contributions to contemporary African art. Here are some notable projects and prize-winning artists from recent editions:
The Malian artist won the Grand Prize in 1996 and has exhibited at multiple editions since, creating monumental textile works that address sociopolitical issues through traditional craft techniques.
Winner of the Grand Prize in 2018 for "Malaïka Dotou Sankofa," a photographic series exploring identity through the metaphor of a bird-woman, combining contemporary photography with traditional symbolism.
"A Salted Intermission" (2022) used salt, shells, and a canoe to create a powerful installation addressing Dakar's relationship to the sea and historical connections to the transatlantic slave trade.
A group of young Senegalese ceramicists who opened the Ban Workshop in 2020, preserving ancestral ceramic practices while bringing contemporary interpretations to traditional forms.
These examples represent just a small fraction of the diverse artistic practices showcased at Dak'Art over the years. From painting, sculpture, and photography to installation, performance, and digital media, the biennale embraces the full spectrum of contemporary artistic expression, with a particular emphasis on work that engages with African contexts and perspectives.
Dak'Art's curatorial approach has evolved significantly since its inception, reflecting changing perspectives on how best to present and contextualize contemporary African art. The biennale has experimented with various models, from open calls and jury selections to appointed artistic directors with specific curatorial visions.
In its early years, Dak'Art primarily relied on an open call system with selection by an international jury. While this democratic approach ensured broad participation, it sometimes resulted in exhibitions lacking strong conceptual coherence. A significant shift occurred in 2006 with the appointment of the first artistic director, establishing a model that allowed for more cohesive thematic frameworks while maintaining commitment to diverse representation.
Recent editions have further refined this approach, with artistic directors developing overarching concepts while collaborating with teams of curators who bring diverse expertise and perspectives. This collective model enables the biennale to maintain conceptual focus while embracing the multiplicity of voices and approaches that characterize contemporary African art.
Several influential curators have shaped Dak'Art's development and vision:
Artistic Director for the 2016 and 2018 editions, bringing his extensive experience as co-founder of Revue Noire and curator of numerous exhibitions focused on contemporary African art.
Artistic Director of the 2022 edition, an art historian and researcher whose work focuses on Senegalese art history and contemporary practice.
Artistic Director of the 2024 edition, bringing her background as an art critic, composer, and pianist to create a multidisciplinary approach to curation.
Co-curator of the 2014 edition, an artist, art historian, and curator who has contributed significantly to scholarship on the biennale and contemporary African art.
Despite variations in specific approaches, several core principles have guided Dak'Art's curatorial practice:
Experience the dynamic atmosphere of Dak'Art through this video showcase of exhibitions, installations, and cultural events from recent editions of the biennale.
Explore critical perspectives and insights on Dak'Art through these selected articles from leading art publications and critics.
An examination of how the biennale has challenged Western-centric art narratives and created alternative frameworks for understanding contemporary art.
The Artistic Director of the 15th edition discusses her vision for "The Wake – L'Éveil" and the challenges of curating Africa's premier art biennale.
Historical analysis of how Dak'Art reflects broader trajectories in Senegalese cultural policy from independence to the present day.
Dak'Art takes place across multiple venues throughout Dakar, with the Ancien Palais de Justice serving as the primary exhibition site in recent editions.