International Visitors Programme
The State of Fashion Biennale 2024, entitled Ties that Bind, together with the International Visitors Programme of the Nieuwe Instituut, invited three curators from the Global South to the opening week of the event in Arnhem. Hanayrá Negreiros (from Brazil), Sunny Dolat (Kenya) and Kallol Datta (India) each created a rich programme in one of the biennale’s sister cities – São Paulo, Nairobi and Bengaluru – before the opening in Arnhem.
On the first day of their visit to Arnhem, they installed several works in the Rembrandt Theatre. Kallol Datta showcased works by Indu Anthony, Rujuta Rao and Swati Kalsi. Sunny Dolat chose pieces by HAWII, Patricia Mbela, IAMISIGO, KikoRomeo and Loza Maléombho, and Hanayrá Negreiros showed works by Goya Lopez and Dayana Molina. A special dinner was organised for the curators, team, advisory board and the entire international creative advisory board.
The press preview and VIP opening of the biennale took place on 16 May. Hanayrá, Sunny and Kallol each presented their work to the (inter)national media, professionals and partners. This was followed by a panel discussion in which programme director Renee van der Hoek interviewed them on stage about their process, experiences and the results of their shows.
Sunny Dolat and Kallol Datta also took part in the Ties that Bind symposium on 21 May, organised in collaboration with ArtEZ University of the Arts and NewTexEco. They each gave a talk in the morning and took part panel discussion with Chet Bugter (head of MA Critical Fashion Practices, ArtEZ) and Tanveer Ahmed (design researcher and lecturer at Central Saint Martins, UK). In the afternoon, Kallol Datta took part in the Textile Surgery session, where different garments were examined by experts from different backgrounds. Sunny Dolat moderated the session Everyday Dressing Practices – Different (Global South) Understandings with Tommy Tse (professor at the University of Amsterdam) and Fairuzah Atchulo (a researcher at the UvA).
Kallol Datta is a clothing designer living and woring in Kolkata, India.
Sunny Dolat is a fashion curator, creative director and producer of international arts and cultural projects, based in Nairobi.
Hanayrá Negreiros is a Brazilian fashion researcher, curator, writer and educator, currently a doctoral candidate at the Pontifical Catholic University of São Paulo.