Kickstarting the public programmes of the 2026 Youth Takeover – Not the Season – join the Assembly members in conversation with the programme curators, Abhirami Suresh, Sanjushrree Subash and Jared Maxilom.

The conversation delves into the nuances of alternative cartographies and the metaphor of the spring as the departure point for developing the Takeover’s theme and its ultimate materialisation at Jameel Arts Centre. Together, the Assembly reflects on their journey throughout the programme and how the exhibition provokes thought and dialogue beyond its physical manifestations.

The Assembly 2025 – 2026 cohort members are: artist and creative technologist Ahmed Bilal, multidisciplinary artist Andres Ugartechea, architect and researcher Dina Barqawi, researcher Mahasin Ismail, graphic designer Poorvaja Subramanian, professional dancer Rei Co, artist and researcher Saiki Padhy, photographer and filmmaker Saina Bidshahri, and filmmaker Vaishnavi Pramodh.

This panel discussion happens in conjunction with activation Between Seasons: Unfolding Places by artist Kesang Chuki. This interactive pop-up draws inspiration for the themes of the exhibition and uses simple paper-folding and cutting techniques that many of us grew up with. Participants will create expandable paper chains by folding, drawing and cutting, which unfold into connected forms. Each chain represents the places, memories or identities they feel stretched between. These are then added to a shared illustrated map, creating a collective landscape of how far we each unfold across different terrains.

Kesang (Priyanka Dhurandhar) is a multidisciplinary artist and designer whose practice explores identity, memory and cultural hybridity through tactile and intuitive forms of making. Rooted in both Tibetan and Indian heritage, her work draws from personal narratives, everyday materials and a sense of play. She often works with collage, illustration and participatory formats to create experiences that invite reflection and connection. Her practice is guided by an interest in spaces, storytelling and the emotional landscapes we carry within us. Through her work, she encourages a return to childlike curiosity, where making becomes a way of remembering, processing and belonging.