Nadia Samdani talks about the journey so far and the vision for Dhaka Art Summit STIR @ DAS 2020
by Rahul KumarMar 13, 2020
•make your fridays matter with a well-read weekend
by Rahul KumarPublished on : Feb 29, 2020
How does one engage the uninitiated into the arts? Over the years, various formats have been introduced with this objective - fairs, biennials, triennials, festivals, the traditional art gallery and museum structures. Recently, the Dhaka Art Summit (DAS) concluded its fifth edition (February 7-15, 2020). It sits at the intersection of various non-commercial presentations. While it showcases modern and contemporary art from the region and beyond, many interventions are experimental, and many installations temporary in nature - something one usually looks forward to seeing at biennials/ triennials. The Summit hosted performances on almost all the days of its duration, along with discourses through panel discussions and talks that were part of the formal programming.
STIR had the distinct opportunity to interview the curator of the edition, Diana Campbell Betancourt, at the Shilpakala Academy, Dhaka, Bangladesh (the main venue for DAS 2020). "This is the first time in eight years that we have a singular theme to the summit – Seismic Movements," explains Betancourt. Referencing the dictionary meaning of the word 'summit' itself (top of a mountain), the theme considers the various interpretations of ruptures and realignments with fundamental shifts. These have been explored by global practitioners shown at the event, both metaphorically and more literally. Interestingly, the exhibits did not reveal the country of origin for the participating artists. "If you look at the labels, I have removed the countries of the artists. You have artists who were born in British-India, educated in Pakistan, and died in Bangladesh, but never left their house," she adds.
Watch the video to explore different forms of art from across the world, under one roof.
by Vasudhaa Narayanan Sep 04, 2025
In its drive to position museums as instruments of cultural diplomacy, competing histories and fragile resistances surface at the Bihar Museum Biennale.
by Srishti Ojha Sep 01, 2025
Magical Realism: Imagining Natural Dis/order’ brings together over 30 artists to reimagine the Anthropocene through the literary and artistic genre.
by Srishti Ojha Aug 29, 2025
The art gallery’s inaugural exhibition, titled after an ancient mnemonic technique, features contemporary artists from across India who confront memory through architecture.
by Mrinmayee Bhoot Aug 27, 2025
A solo exhibition at Haus for Media Art Oldenburg presents Castelblanco's decade-long research, revealing the interdependencies of the natural world and indigenous communities in the Amazon.
make your fridays matter
SUBSCRIBEEnter your details to sign in
Don’t have an account?
Sign upOr you can sign in with
a single account for all
STIR platforms
All your bookmarks will be available across all your devices.
Stay STIRred
Already have an account?
Sign inOr you can sign up with
Tap on things that interests you.
Select the Conversation Category you would like to watch
Please enter your details and click submit.
Enter the 6-digit code sent at
Verification link sent to check your inbox or spam folder to complete sign up process
by Rahul Kumar | Published on : Feb 29, 2020
What do you think?