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The stage has been set for the first Kochi-Muziris Biennale, the 3-month cultural extravaganza of international contemporary visual art, being organised here for the first time in the country.
The function will be formally inaugurated by the Chief Minister Oommen Chandy at the Parade Grounds in Fort Kochi on Wednesday evening.
The exhibition will bring together over 80 artists from around the globe. Kochi has already been declared the Biennale City.
A quarter of the artistic presence will be from Kerala and an equal number from the rest of the country. The Biennale does figure a good number of Malayali artists. No less than 22 of them are from the State, Bose Krishnamachari, President of the Kochi Biennale Foundation and curator of the event, said.
Among the famous artists expected to participate from Kerala include painter Paris Viswanathan, K.P. Reji, Sosa Joseph and P.S. Jalaja, besides Mumbai-based Malayalee artist Jyothi Basu.
The artists featuring in the event include Ariel Hassan (Argentina), Amanullah Mojadidi (Afghanistan), Rigo23 (Portugal), Joseph Semah (Israeli based in Amsterdam), Ernesto Neto (Brazil) and Jonas Staal (the Netherlands).
“Quite a few Biennales across the world have the same set of artists. The Kochi edition is introducing some new faces,” co-curator Riyas Komu, Secretary of the Kochi Biennal Foundation said.
The three-month spectacle — a mix of visual grandeur and aesthetic sensibility, fantasies and political messages — will also feature film screenings and performance arts.
The inaugural event will see a performance by the Oscar-nominated M.I.A, where the globally acclaimed vocalist and visual artist will be collaborating with ethnic Chenda drummers of central Kerala.
Venue
The artists — almost half of them are from abroad (24 countries) — will exhibit their talent and skills in nine venues of the city, including a newly refurbished Durbar Hall in Kochi, and a renovated British-era warehouse, the Aspinwall House, in Fort Kochi.
A number of installations have been mounted in rambling public spaces and heritage buildings such as Pepper House in Fort Kochi. The other spots of artistic activity are Cochin Club, David Hall, Moidu’s Heritage and Parade Grounds.
The Biennale, slated to end on 13/03/13, has already begun showcasing indigenous performance arts.
To boost economy
According to organisers, the upcoming event is expected to give a fillip to the State’s economy, particularly in the tourism sector, going by the histories of leading Biennales across the world. Kochi is expecting over eight lakh visitors, including a large number of foreigners during this season.
The organisers believe that the event will generate substantial revenues to the Kerala Government through sales tax, service tax and luxury tax.
The Kochi Corporation has also lent its support in a big way by declaring Kochi a Biennale city.
“We will be extending co-operation to the coming editions of the event every two years,” Tony Chammany, the city Mayor, said.
> sajeevkumar.v@thehindu.co.in
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