Shiraz Bayjoo speaks about his Sharjah Biennial 15 works, which include a pseudo-archive of multiform artworks from ‘Searching for Libertalia’ (2019).

Mainly drawing on repurposed archival displays, Bayjoo’s works overturn tired orientalist tropes by subverting western historical narratives that have defined—and oppressed—the psyches of colonised peoples.

Combining archival vitrines, videos, furniture, photography and found objects, Bayjoo addresses embedded historical biases and communicates new meanings with added layers of paint and the splicing of archival footage. 

At Sharjah Biennial 15, he also presented colourful flags newly made for the Biennial, which were installed along the side of Bait Obaid Al Shamsi facing the Arabian Gulf.