About the Project

I am Roshan Kalantarian, a gap-year student from St. John, USVI, currently living in Dakar, Senegal through the YES Abroad program. Drawn to the art here, I wanted to explore and document Dakar’s creativity firsthand.

A key inspiration for my project was the Dakar Biennale of Contemporary African Art (Dak’Art), which took place in 2024 from November 7 to December 7. As one of the most significant art events in Africa, the Biennale showcases the creativity of artists from across the continent and brings art to the forefront of public life in Dakar. During the Biennale, I had the chance to visit numerous exhibition locations and experience the city’s full artistic energy firsthand. I also participated in an art class led by an artist featured in the Biennale, which gave me unique insights into their creative process and the themes they explored in their work. The experience deepened my appreciation for the Biennale and its role in celebrating and sharing African art.

What makes the Dakar Biennale special is its accessibility—art is not confined to galleries but extends into the streets. There is the “ON“ program and “OFF,“ with the former corresponding to the bigger-name art sites and the latter to street art. Murals, sculptures, and installations pop up in neighborhoods and public spaces, transforming Dakar into an open-air museum. This approach reflects how deeply public art is embedded in Senegalese culture. Murals and other forms of street art are not just decorative; they carry messages about history, identity, and social change. They connect with local communities while also inviting visitors to see Dakar in a new way.

Powered by Next.js, React-Leaflet, and Framer Motion, this site is designed to be intuitive for both locals and travelers. Going forward, I plan to add artist interviews, new art routes, and multilingual support in Wolof and French. I would also love to expand this project to include the insights of others as well as more locations in the world.