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Kochi Biennale: Art as a Living, Breathing Experience
21 Dec, 2025
Summary
- Biennale blurs hierarchies by mixing emerging and established artists.
- Art is presented as dynamic, evolving over the exhibition's duration.
- The city of Kochi is deeply integrated into the Biennale's fabric.
The Kochi-Muziris Biennale is reimagining contemporary art by embracing dynamism and dismantling traditional hierarchies. Curator Nikhil Chopra focuses on art forms that defy neat categorization, exemplified by a performance artist whose music generates visuals, creating a multisensory experience akin to a live painting.
Chopra's curatorial approach intentionally levels the playing field by exhibiting emerging artists alongside renowned figures like Marina Abramovic and Gulammohammed Sheikh. This fosters dialogue and empowers younger voices. Artworks are conceptualized as evolving entities; for instance, a garden planted at the start will grow and change over the Biennale's three-month duration, with time itself becoming a key material.
The exhibition theme, 'For the Time Being,' highlights ephemerality and shared experience. Artists actively engage with Kochi, sourcing local materials and collaborating with residents, carpenters, and craftspeople, deeply embedding the city into the Biennale's fabric. This collective creation process extends to acknowledging all contributors, demystifying art and affirming its essential role in life.
