Kochi Muziris Biennale: How the Indian art world sees it

As the activities pick up around the various venues of the Kochi Muziris Biennale, with art enthusiasts, tourists and locals heading to the 29-odd venues hosting art-related events, some of the Indian art world’s prominent names delve into what the Biennale means to not just the art community, but also to the regular folk of the city.

Kiran Nadar
| Photo Credit:
@MOHAMMED ROSHAN

I love it

The Kochi Biennale is evolving, I love it. There have been problems in the past but they seem to have been ironed out. For me, the atmosphere, the fact of getting younger artists doing work, showing them, getting the involvement of the local people… it is the biggest asset, the People’s Biennale part of it. This Biennale has a great atmosphere and everybody is feeling a sense of achievement… so that’s good!

Kiran Nadar

Founder and Chairperson, Kiran Nadar Museum of Art

Aparajita Jain
| Photo Credit:
SPECIAL ARRANGEMENT

KMB has put India on the map of the art world

It is really just about the art, not about the commerce of it, though funnily enough everything is about funding. But this is a place where the artist can actually work without having to work under the pressure to sell. So, bienniales are very important. For the country, this is one of the more important bienniales though there are others in the country like the Calcutta Biennale and the Chennai Photo Biennale, this may be the first of this kind. The scale of the Kochi Biennale is larger, a lot more international. If we want things to happen in India, we have to make them happen. It has given us so much, it has put our country on the map [of the international art world] and become one of the centres of conversation when it comes to art. 

Aparajita Jain 

Director, Nature Morte Art Gallery, Mumbai 

Shireen Gandhy
| Photo Credit:
VIVEK BENDRE

‘We love it so much’

I was sceptical the first year [the first edition of the KMB in 2012] when I came. The moment I stepped into Kochi, into Aspinwall House, it was all a mess at the time. But, for the first time, I was struck by the feeling that the Indian art world had come together for something. It was the beginning of a love affair, which has really, really not gone away. Of course I was broken-hearted the last time when it didn’t happen [on time] as we get upset when things don’t happen on time. It is only because we love it so much. For me, it is how everybody here, the locals, are so proud. I remember the rickshawala showing us around, where a particular artist’s show was. The people are so present. From what I have seen, the word for me is visceral. Just by looking at the works you feel the texture of it. Nikhil and gang have such a sense of…they are performers and that performative element comes through [in the curation]. 

Shireen Gandhy 

Chemould Art Gallery, Mumbai 

Roshni Vadehra
| Photo Credit:
SPECIAL ARRANGEMENT

Amazing energy and vibe

I think it is one of the most important art gatherings in the country. The energy and the vibe is amazing. It brings the art community together, it is amazing how the public enjoy it and how they engage with art. A new, local audience is engaging with contemporary art, which is wonderful and there is the usual audience from around the world. It is such a proud moment for the Indian art world to have something like this in our country; garnering traction and attention over time. With the world looking at South Asian art seriously, it is an opportunity for everyone to come and see what we have to offer. International names like Marina Abrahamovic will be performing alongside South Asian artists. 

Roshni Vadehra,

Gallerist/Collector 

Director, Vadehra Art Gallery