Memories from Kochi-Muziris Biennale 2018/2019

One of my favourite memories from India is experiencing the Kochi-Muziris Biennale in Kochi, Kerala. The Kochi-Muziris Biennale is the largest contemporary art event in India and in Asia.

The Biennale is set in numerous spaces such as galleries, halls, heritage buildings, godowns, old structures and public spaces. Artists from India and around the world exhibit their artworks ranging from paintings, sculptures, installations, new media, films and performance art. Apart from that, the Biennale facilitates a variety of programmes such as screenings, talks, music, workshops and educational activities for adults, students and school children.

I learnt about the Biennale from Johann Binny Kuruvilla, the founder of The Kochi Heritage Project, whom I met at a heritage walk in Bandra, Mumbai in 2017. He talked so much about the exhibition, and as an admirer of contemporary art (though I can’t draw to save my life!), I was very intrigued by it. And I told myself that I would have to make my way there for the next exhibition.

True enough, two years later, I made my way to Kochi in February 2019 to experience the Biennale for the very first time. If you are familiar with Kochi, the sites for the Biennale are mainly in these spaces: Aspinwall House, David Hall, Pepper House, Cabral Yard, Kashi Art Gallery, Jew Town Road Godown, Parade Ground, Fort Kochi beach, just to name a few.

Here are some photos from my 2019 visit:

A South African artist researched the slave trade history that took place between Kerala and South Africa from the 17th to 19th centuries. Many slaves were sourced by the Dutch from the Malabar coast (southern part of India’s western coast), given Christian first names before being sold in the Cape of Good Hope in South Africa. For the exhibition, the artist inscribed names, age, “buyer and seller” of the slaves on T-shirts which were dipped in the muddy waters of Cape Town Castle, symbolising oppression and hard labour. The T-shirts were then brought back to Cochin, washed and exhibited.

The Clothesline Project was started by a Mexican artist who posed questions to people to gauge their resilience in dealing with the damage caused by a major earthquake in Mexico in 2017. The Clothesline Project was featured at the Biennale as a form of solidarity with the people of Kerala whom have suffered major losses during the 2018 floods.

Aside from obvious property and financial losses, there were a few interesting responses (or perspectives) shared by Mexican as well as Keralan people – what the tragedies had taught them.

Enjoyed delicious and healthy food by Edible Archives in Cabral Yard. At the Biennale, Edible Archives introduced healthy foods by serving indigenous food of Kerala – locally grown rice and ingredients cooked with less heavy spices and masala. I loved the food here so much as well as the relaxed settings of Cabral Yard that I came here twice!

I don’t think my photos give justice to the incredible and fascinating artworks featured in the Biennale, therefore I am sharing with you their 2018/2019 exhibition videos. May these videos inspire the art-lover in you to make your way to Kochi to experience the Biennale, as the next 2022/2023 exhibition begins on 12 Dec 2022 until 10 April 2023. If everything goes well, I might be there in March 2023, fingers crossed…😊

Related Post: Returned to India in March 2023 – Kochi, Kerala

Have you been to Kochi and have you experienced the Kochi-Muziris Biennale? Do share in the comments below 🙂