Main venue of the Kochi-Muziris Biennale at Aspinwall House, Kochi. , Photo Credit: H. Vibhu
Since its inception in 2012, the Kochi Muziris Biennale has been looking for a permanent venue. Aspinwall House, a waterfront building in Fort Kochi dating from 1867, has been the main venue since the first edition and lends itself to an avant-garde show. Owned by Delhi-based realty firm DLF, the building is rented to KMB for four months and is locked for the rest of the year. As a result, it requires maintenance work and substantial pruning before biennials. Tourism Director PB Noh says that the state government is actively trying to acquire Aspinwall House. “The issue of a permanent site for the KMB will be resolved soon,” he said, adding that if the property is acquired, it will belong to the tourism department and be used for related cultural events.
However, in applications filed under the Right to Information (RTI) Act, the Ernakulam District Collector, the Culture Minister and the Chief Minister’s Office, the Ernakulam District Collector, the Culture Minister and the Chief Minister’s Office have been asked to acquire Aspinwall House. Details were sought regarding the discussions held for the same. Available.
While the main exhibition curated by Shubigi Rao will be held at three venues, Aspinwall House, Paper House and Anand Warehouse, 13 other venues will host invited exhibitions and the students’ biennial. The Durbar Hall will host a curated show of artists from Kerala.
The pavilion is one of the most interesting places in the show. This temporary structure built in the Cabral yard hosts talks, seminars and performances and has always been a topic of discussion due to its distinctive architecture and design. Mumbai-based architect Sameera Rathod, who heads design and construction for this edition, says she was inspired by the roofs of warehouses in Kochi as a starting point. The structure will have seating for 100 to 150 people and also includes a children’s area and a cafe.
The pavilion will be constructed using materials reclaimed from the rubble of the building next door, broken pieces from the quarry for the flooring, degradable steel… all of which can then be reused. “It is a temporary structure and should be sustainable,” says Rathod, adding that “the poetry of light and air” will come from shutters that will open like wings in the wall. The structure will be 30 feet at its highest point.
One of the flagship events of KMB, the Student Biennale (SB) will be held at four venues – Trivandrum Warehouse in Jew Town, VKL Warehouse, KVN Arcade, and Arman Building at Market Road in Mattancherry. Curated by seven individuals and groups, the exhibition will showcase 75 projects from 60 art schools from across India. “There is 100% representation of every region,” says Mario D’Souza, Director Programs.
Blaise Joseph, head of the ABC (Art by Children) program for children from classes V to IX, shared the news of opening of two art rooms in government schools at Nazarakkal and Kadamakkudy. “We have plans to open art rooms in rural areas as well as in residential societies in urban areas,” says Blaise, who designed the art module.