Sharjah Art Foundation has appointed Yuko Hasegawa as Curator of Sharjah Biennial 11, opening in March 2013.

Yuko Hasegawa is Chief Curator of the Museum of Contemporary Art, Tokyo (MOT) and a seasoned director, curator and advisor for international biennials.

For Sharjah Biennial 11, Hasegawa proposes a selection of artworks that reassess the Westerncentrism of knowledge in modern times. She calls for a gathering of architects, designers, creators, and artists, who will bring together different perspectives, and challenge viewers to seek new knowledge by sharing ideas. Hasegawa offers the metaphor of the courtyard in Islamic architecture; she sees Sharjah as a place of hospitality and discipline, and proposes a biennial that embraces these qualities, while also exploring the complexity and diversity of cultures, societies, and politics. Sharjah Art Foundation President Sheikha Hoor Al-Qasimi stated, “We are pleased to announce Yuko Hasegawa as Curator for Sharjah Biennial 11. Hasegawa has had a distinguished career characterised by major curatorial projects, notably in Eastern Asia and Latin America. Her proposal for the 2013 Biennial reflects the long tradition of Sharjah as a place where the gathering of diverse communities encourages an exchange of ideas and knowledge.” Hasegawa added, “Sharjah is historic and present, social, natural, and political. It is a place that encourages thinking and negotiating with others. My natural response to its dynamism is to produce a Biennial which asks questions through art, and creates a dialogue that liberates us from Eurocentrism, Globalism, and other relevant –isms.”