Shahzia Sikander at Sharjah Biennial 11

Shahzia Sikander specializes in Indian and Persian manuscript painting, a traditional, technique-driven style that Sikander imbued with a personal context and history, blending the Eastern focus on precision and methodology with a Western emphasis on creative, subjective expression. In doing so, Sikander transported manuscript painting into the realm of contemporary art. Expanding the manuscript painting to the wall, Sikander also creates murals and installations, using tissue-paper-like materials that allow for a more free-flowing style. Utilizing performance and various media and formats to investigate issues of border crossing, she seeks to subvert stereotypes of the East and, in particular, the Eastern Pakistani woman.

Wael Shawky was born in 1971 in Alexandria, Egypt, where he lives and works. With a multimedia practice that encompasses works on paper, film, and performance, Shawky reconsiders historical narratives and contemporary culture.

Ernesto Neto was born in 1964 in Rio de Janeiro. He lives and works in Brazil. With formal and conceptual concerns considered in equal measure, Neto’s large-scale immersive sculptures are simultaneously playful and serious.

Lucia Koch was born in Porto Alegre, Brazil, in 1966. She lives and works in São Paulo. Employing photographs, video, and architectural interventions and installations, her work brings attention to often-overlooked aspects of environments.

Thilo Frank was born in 1978 in Germany and lives and works in Berlin. His large-scale sculptural installations combine architectural elements and sound and often invite viewer participation.

Ahmed Mater was born in 1979 in Tabuk, Saudi Arabia, and lives and works in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. Among the most influential contemporary artists from Saudi Arabia, Mater has been integral to the establishment of the country’s artists on the global scene.

David Claerbout was born in 1969, in Kortrijk, Belgium, and lives and works in Antwerp and Berlin. Using photography, video, and digital-editing tools, Claerbout creates large-scale installations that provoke questions of time, memory, and truth.