Exhibition: Making Doula 2007-2013

On 20 April 2012, the 5th International Architecture Biënniale Rotterdam will kick off. This year’s theme is ‘Making City’. How are people around the world involved in the process of making cities? One of the projects exposed comes from Douala in Cameroon. 

Making Douala

The project Making Douala displays the work of the Salon Urbaine de Douala (SUD): a triennial salon in Cameroon organized by doual’art. SUD reflects on the role of art as an indicator of history and creator of sense in the city. Through art, SUD creates a sense of citizenship in the city of Douala. Various projects and events created by SUD address the state of the public domain in the city. The artworks have a strong social and political dimension. They aim to achieve a certain degree of publicity or public 'space' that is lacking in many African cities. 

Making Douala

The first conference in 2007 displayed artworks from mostly Cameroonian artists. Three years later, the 2010 conference also brought together local artists with foreign artists. The international collaboration enabled artists to work together and broaden their scope about urbanity and art in the city of Douala. 

An art project that does what is should do

According to Domus the Douala project is a project that does what many critics claim biennials and triennials fail to do: "Make an impact". The subjects tackled during the conferences focus on topics including: tradition vs. modernity; noise pollution; urban mobility; urban lighting; and art and politics. The artworks use local support and resources in order to engage in a political and social discussion. The next Salon Urbain de Douala called ‘Douala, Métamorphoses’ is scheduled for 1 – 8 December 2013.

Making Douala – 5^th IABR 2012

IABR’s Making City exhibitions showcase projects from around the world aiming to organize and ‘make’ cities in improved ways. Making Douala is one of the examples featured. Innovation, creativity, and collaboration are among the most sought after characteristics of the projects displayed at the IABR Making City exhibitions. Thirty-five projects from over twenty-five cities around the world will be presented in Rotterdam. In addition to New York, Paris, São Paulo, Delhi, and, of course, Rotterdam, the city of Douala has attracted the attention of the IABR Making City curatorial team, who have recognized the efforts on planning, design and politics undertaken by the city of Douala with the help of the many projects of SUD. 

Making Douala, 20 April – 1 June, at the Riverclub Gallery in Rotterdam