The Kochi-Muziris Biennale is an international exhibition of contemporary art held in Kochi, Kerala. It is the first Biennale being held in India. The Kochi-Muziris Biennale is an initiative of the Kochi-Biennale Foundation with support from the Government of Kerala .
The exhibition was set in spaces across Kochi, Muziris and surrounding islands. The shows were held in existing galleries and halls, and site-specific installations in public spaces, heritage buildings and disused structures.
Videos – routecochin , Cochin Biannale
Indian and international artists exhibits artworks across a variety of mediums including film, installation, painting, sculpture, new media and performance art.Through the celebration of contemporary art from around the world, The Kochi-Muziris Biennale seeks to invoke the historic cosmopolitan legacy of the modern metropolis of Kochi, and its mythical predecessor, the ancient port of Muziris.
Alongside the exhibition the Biennale offers a rich programme of talks, seminars, screenings, music, workshops and educational activities for school children and students.
The second edition of the biennale cost about Rs 17 crore, slightly up from the Rs 16.5 crore spent on the first edition. The Kerala government’s contribution fell to Rs 3 crore from Rs 9 crore despite pleas for financial assistance that fell on deaf ears. The organisers relied on sponsorship and online crowd funding for meeting the expenses. The number of visitors grew to 5 lakh in the second edition, an increase of 1 lakh from the first edition.
The Birth Of Kochi-Muziris Biennale
In May 2010, Mumbai based contemporary artists of Kerala origin, Bose Krishnamachari and Riyaz Komu, were approached by then culture minister of Kerala, M.A Baby to start an international art project in the state. Acknowledging the lack of an international platform for contemporary art in India, Bose and Riyas proposed the idea of a Biennale (a large scale international exhibition) in Kochi on the lines of the Venice Biennale.
Kochi Biennale Foundation
The Kochi Biennale Foundation (KBF) is a non-profit charitable trust engaged in promoting art & culture and educational activities in India; primary amongst them the hosting of the Kochi-Muziris Biennale. KBF works around the year to strengthen contemporary art infrastructure and to broaden public access to art across India.
The Kochi Biennale Foundation is also engaged in the conservation of heritage properties and monuments and the upliftment of traditional forms of art and culture.
KBF was founded in 2010 by artists Bose Krishnamachari and Riyas Komu .
The First Kochi-Muziris Biennale began on 12 December 2012(12/12/12).[1] The biennale hosted 80 artists with nearly 50 percent foreign artists, site-specific works and a sustained education programme in the three months.As a run-up to the event, in April, the Durbar Hall Kochi will host German modern artist Eberhard Havekost’s exhibition “Sightseeing Trip”, held in collaboration with Dresden State Art Collections. The Aspinwall House exhibits the art works of 44 artists spread across the premises.
Entry was free till 23 December which was then replaced by ticketed entry at Rs.50 to help pay for daily running costs. According to artist and Kochi-Muziris Biennale artistic director Bose Krishnamachari support has come in many forms. Shalini and Sanjay Passi held a INR 25,000-per-head dinner in the capital to raise funds, raising ₹550,000(US$8,200). Google met with the foundation and has offered help with the website, which received 7.5 million hits in the first month. The Jindals of Jindal Steel and Power Limited, the late Kerala Congress leader T.M. Jacob, R.K. Krishna Kumar of Tata group, Jayanta Matthews of Malayala Manorama and the businessman Shibu Mathai have all donated.
The sites for the Kochi-Muziris Biennale were:
- Aspinwall House
- David Hall
- Pepper House
- Moidu’s Heritage
- Durbar Hall
- Cabral Yard
- Parade Ground
- Fort Kochi beach
- Kashi Art Gallery
- Jew Town Road Godown
- Rose Street Bungalow
- Cochin Club
- David Horvitz
Many eminent artists in Kerala raised concern over the alleged lack of transparency in the way the funds were spend by Kochi-Muziris Biennale foundation. At the same time many known contemporary artists of the state of Kerala had come out in support of the event as it could help in enhancing the image of Kochi.
