Curator’s program Anita Dube

An art historian and critic by training and a visual and performance artist in practice, Dube’s conceptually-rich, politically-charged works have been widely exhibited, including at the first KMB in 2012. Her practice uses objects and industrial materials, performance and text to critique contemporary socio-political realities. Dube is also a board member at KHOJ, an international artists’ association she co-founded in 1997 in New Delhi. Over two decades, the initiative that began as a modest annual workshop has become one of the most important platforms shining a global spotlight on South Asian art, organising and hosting international “itinerant” workshops, residencies and exhibitions.

Dube’s select solo exhibitions include Yours Disparately (Nature Morte, New Delhi, 2014), Chance Pieces (Nature Morte, Berlin, 2013), Eye, etc. (Lakeeren Gallery, Mumbai, 2013), Babel (Galerie Dominique Fiat, Paris, 2011), Kal (Lakeeren Gallery, Mumbai, 2010), Phantoms of Liberty (Galerie Almine Rech, Paris, 2007), Illegal (Nature Morte, New Delhi; Bose Pacia, New York, Gallery SKE, Bangalore, 2005), You Tell What You Know Down Here Girl (Sakshi Gallery, Mumbai, 1999), Desire Garden (Community Hall, Apartments, New Delhi, 1992). Her works have been presented at Biennale Jogja XI (Indonesia, 2011), 3rd Moscow Biennale of Contemporary Art (2009), iCon: India Contemporary, Venice Biennale (Collateral, 2005), Yokohama Triennale (Japan, 2001) and the 7th Havana Biennial (Cuba, 2000). Dube also participated in the groundbreaking 2009 exhibition, Indian Highway, curated by Hans Ulrich Obrist, Julia Peyton-Jones and Gunnar B. Kvaran.

How can we connect: how can we enjoy our intelligence, our beauty, our creativity with others; how can we love? These questions lie at the core of my curatorial adventure; its desire to explore various possibilities for a non-alienated life. We need to listen, now more urgently than ever, to the marginalised and oppressed, to women, to the third gender and the queer community; to critical voices; to the whispers and warnings of nature – if we desire a better life on this earth. Culture is a privileged space that can show us the way forward towards our humanity. With Kochi Muziris Biennale 2018, we can search, question and celebrate all at the same time. 

Read this interview in The Times of India about her curatorial interests.

About the tailor-made programmes for individuals

Every year, curators and programme directors from abroad are invited by Flanders Arts Institute to visit the contemporary visual and performing art scene in Flanders and Brussels, Belgium.

They are offered a tailor-made programme in which they meet artists and other art professionals. Included are visits to artists, museums, arts centres and galleries. The programme is prepared in close consultation with the curators and takes account of their wishes.

In addition they are put in touch with artists and organisations that are not so well known at international level. This way, Flanders Arts Institute tries to increase the knowledge about the Flemish contemporary art scene and enhance its position abroad. Each visit generally lasts three to four days, unless there are reasons that require a longer stay.

For whom?

This programme is intended for art professionals in the visual, audiovisual and/or media art sector, including curators, critics or researchers. The goal is to maintain a balance between young upcoming, freelance and established art professionals associated with major art institutions, biennials, festivals, universities and magazines.