The Kochi-Muziris Biennale, India’s first such show, provides a much-needed platform for a vital inquiry into today’s art by bringing together artists, curators, critics and the general public in a new form of sociality and productive interrelationship.
Atul Dodiya reflected upon the mystery of creativity using a poem and many photographs of artists and poets. ▲
Ernesto Neto from Brazil, in 'Life is a River', used local textiles for his creation, complete with pouches that carry spices, whose fragrance contributed to the total impact and turned what was once a coconut fibre-processing factory into a magical cave. ▲
Ibrahim Quraishi, in his installation 'Islamic Violins', organised a series of violins to invoke a chapter from the history of music and of his country. ▲
Subodh Gupta packed a lot of things into from the daily life of the common people in Kerala into a typical Kerala wooden boat, suggesting several contexts. ▲
Amar Kanwar, the film-maker and artist, presented the state of the peasants of Odisha through the photographs of farmers who committed suicide, albums, books, newspapers report, paddy seeds and cultural artefacts. ▲
Ai Weiwei, the great Chinese artist and dissenter, in his video installation 'So Sorry', reflects on his situation, the destiny of a dissenting artist in a totalitarian regime. He was not allowed to leave China to visit Kochi.
Photo: Thulasi Kakkat
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Dylan Martorell with his work 'Soundtracks-Kochi'. He crossed the boundaries between music and visual art when he designed his own magical musical instruments from objects he picked up from the locality.
Photo: Thulasi Kakkat
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K.P. Reji at work on his huge canvas depicting village life. ▲
Behind Cochin Club, the work of Delhi-based Mrida. ▲
The Portuguese artist Rigo 23's installation.
Photo: Thulasi Kakkat
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Sheela Gowda and Christoph Storz paid homage to a vanishing lifestyle by displaying scores of grinding stones, once used to grind spices, rice and wheat but now replaced by electric grinders and mixies.
Photo: Thulasi Kakkat
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A fallen tree at Vasco da Gama Square in Fort Kochi that was painted by the artists at the biennale.
Photo: H_Vibhu
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Vivek Vilasini with his work 'Last Supper Gaza', on the opening day of the biennale.
Photo: K_K_Mustafah
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The artist Zhang Enli painted whole walls to create patterns with one dominant hue in the company of many others and duplicated them with mirrors.
Photo: K_K_Mustafah
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A view of Aspinwall House, the main venue of the biennale.
Photo: Thulasi Kakkat
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Durbar Hall, in Ernakulam. An important venue of the biennale.
Photo: K_K_Mustafah
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A view of Pepper House, which is located between Fort Kochi and Bazar Road, another of the biennale venues.
Photo: Thulasi Kakkat
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