The 15th Dakar Biennale, titled The Wake, showcases the work of 58 artists from Africa and its diaspora. With an immersive scenography, the exhibition spans diverse mediums—illustration, virtual reality, sculpture, sound art, and photography—emphasizing identity and transformation.
Founded in 1989 by the Senegalese government, Dak’Art has become a key exhibition for African artists. This year’s theme, which explores exhumation, mourning, and uprooting, centers on connecting the past and future, giving both equal significance, as articulated by artistic director Salimata Diop.
Inspired by Christina Sharpe’s In the Wake: On Blackness and Black Being, the Biennale examines Black identity, the effects of colonialism, and how cultural and artistic expressions address trauma, mourning, and resilience. The term “wake” is explored to encompass ideas of awakening, mourning, and the lasting impact of the past on the present.
The Wake calls for social and ecological transformation, beginning with a wave of sand symbolizing the passage of time and the ongoing changes shaping both the environment and human life, centered around Senegal.
As Africa’s westernmost point, Dakar is the ideal setting to address contemporary art, social issues, and environmental challenges. The Biennale explores the intersection of colonial histories, environmental concerns, and creative responses, emphasizing the role of indigenous knowledge and resilience in confronting global environmental changes, with Africa seen as a source of innovative solutions.
This year’s edition brings together artists from both sides of the Atlantic. The pavilions are designed to be intimate, narrative-driven, and interactive, emphasizing sound and music—often overlooked in exhibitions on African art and its diaspora.
The Biennale highlights a wide array of voices, from Younès Ben Slimane’s architectural influence to Ama Be’s material research (Ghanaian-American), reflecting the depth of contemporary African and diasporic art and offering a rich cultural, political, and aesthetic dialogue.
Alioune Badara Camara’s emotionally charged galactic landscapes, crafted from acrylic, wood, and metal, blend African motifs with organic forms, inviting introspective dialogue on identity. His work explores the connection between environment, technology, and culture, with a particular focus on the cosmos.
Hicham Berrada (Moroccan-French) examines the intersection of science and art, while Dior Thiam (German-Senegalese) engages with historical narratives. Additional prominent figures include Ezra Wube (Ethiopian-American), Masud Olufani (Sierra Leonean), and Nengi Omuku (Nigerian).
Other featured artists include Adel Abdessemed (French-Algerian), Hiba Baddou (Moroccan), Sonia Barrett (Jamaican-British), Sokari Douglas Camp (Nigerian), Jenna Burchell (South Africa), and Ghizlane Sahli (Moroccan-Spanish).
