After delayed opening India’s most prestigious visual arts event ‘Kochi Muziris Biennale’ witnesses cultural whirlwind
The fifth edition of Kochi Muziris Biennale, India’s most coveted visual arts event will centre on the theme – “In Our Views Flow Ink and Fire”. Organised at multiple venues in Kochi, the four-month-long celebration of art is expected to attract tourists worldwide and is scheduled to see several discussions, performances and film screenings.
The city is experiencing the ripples of creativity in every direction manifested through a series of fest like Sea – A Boiling Vessel (Aazhi) art exhibition, the Kochi International Book Festival (KIBF), Changampuzha Samskarika Kendram’s silver jubilee cultural extravaganza, the Cochin Carnival… Keralites are truly loving the choice this festive season.
The fifth edition is supposed to bring together 90 artists from across the globe. Originally scheduled to open in December 2020, the event was delayed twice due to the pandemic. While some of the artwork is still in transit, the organisers have yet to acquire the famous Aspinwall House venue, until recently the Kerala government was reportedly negotiating with the current owners, the DLF Group.
Although some of the satellite exhibitions have opened, the main venues — Aspinwall House, Pepper House, and Anand Warehouse — will open on December 23.
Speaking at the inauguration, the founder Krishnamachari said, “Kochi Muziris Biennale has evolved into people’s biennale through these years. The biennale will act as a window for global art and tourism in Kochi and Kerala.”
“Kochi, which embraces all kinds of cultures, is a fitting venue for the biennale. Many doubted whether the Biennale would succeed in India. Today the Biennale has grown to an international level,” said Chief Minister, Kerala, Pinarayi Vijayan during inauguration.
