Dhaka art summit 2018 : exhibition guide

The Dhaka Art Summit (DAS) is an international, non-commercial research and exhibition platform for art and architecture related to South Asia. With a core focus on Bangladesh, DAS re-examines how we think about these forms of art in both a regional and an international context. Founded in 2012 by the Samdani Art Foundation—who continue to produce the festival—in collaboration with the Ministry of Cultural Affairs, People’s Republic of Bangladesh, DAS is hosted every two years at the Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy.

Rejecting the traditional biennale format to create a more generative space for art and exchange, DAS’s interdisciplinary programme concentrates its endeavours towards the advancement and promotion of South Asia’s contemporary and historic creative communities. Led by Chief Curator Diana Campbell Betancourt, local and international guest curators from leading institutions are commissioned to conduct research across South Asia, unlocking new areas of inquiry to build collaborative group exhibitions and experimental writing initiatives, as well as film and talks programmes.

For each edition of DAS, Bangladeshi artists shortlisted for the Samdani Art Award exhibit their work under the guidance of an international guest curator. Organised in partnership with the Delfina Foundation, the Award has created an internationally recognised platform for the work of young Bangladeshi artists. Many shortlisted artists have later exhibited in international exhibitions and institutions, including the 11th Gwangju Biennale, South Korea (2016); curated by_vienna, Austria (2016); 11th Shanghai Biennale, China (2016); 4a Centre for Contemporary Asian Art, Australia (2017); and Kunsthalle Zürich, Switzerland (2017).

Expanding this support further, DAS 2018 will introduce two new platforms. The Samdani Artist-Led Initiatives Forum will recognise the importance of Bangladesh’s independently established and self-funded art initiatives by providing space and curatorial support for these groups to showcase their work during DAS. The Samdani Architecture Award invited architecture students across Bangladesh to submit proposals for the design of DAS 2018’s Education Pavilion. The winning proposal was constructed to house DAS 2018’s rich educational programming—including lectures, events, workshops, and dialogues—which is currently being developed by an international curriculum committee.