The 2016 edition of DAS takes place from 5–8 February at the Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy, showcasing some of the most extraordinary art from South Asia. Led by Samdani Art Foundation Artistic Director and DAS Chief Curator, Diana Campbell Betancourt, the Summit brings together artists, curators and thinkers to explore and share artistic work and practices from the region, provoking reflections on transnationalism, identity and time.
Through its unique format and innovative curatorial approach, DAS is known for creating a generative space where participants can reconsider the past and future of art and exchange within South Asia and the rest of the world. Considered a central meeting point for art professionals from the region and further afield, those participating include over 300 emerging and established artists, internationally renowned curators and writers.
The number of visiting institutions and partners from the United Kingdom this year reflect the flourishing support and interest in DAS and include Tate Modern, Tate Britain, V&A, Serpentine Galleries, Hayward Gallery, Delfina eFoundation, The Ttley, Fiorucci Art Trust, Manchester Art Gallery, Whitworth Art Gallery, New Art Exchange, Yorkshire Sculpture Park, Liverpool Biennial and the Manchester International Festival, to name but a few.
Also attending are internationally renowned
institutions like the Metropolitan Museum of Art, New Museum and Museum
of Modern Art in New York; Centre Pompidou in Paris; Queensland Art
Gallery I Gallery of Modern Art in Brisbane; Artspace Sydney Visual Arts
Centre; documenta 14 in Athens and Kassel; Art Gallery of New South
Wales; Stedelijk Museum Amsterdam; Barcelona Museum of Contemporary Art;
M+ in Hong Kong; Fukuoka Asian Art Museum, Japan; CSMVS Museum in
Mumbai; Garage Museum of Contemporary Art in Moscow,
and many others, including biennales and festivals from India, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Pakistan and the UK.