KOCHI: The second edition of Kochi Muziris Biennale (KMB) is just two months away, but the streets of Fort Kochi and the houses hosting the various art shows are gearing up to host the mega event that for the first time opened up a new world of possibilities in the art domain the year before last.
Aspinwall House and Pepper House, close to each other in Fort Kochi will be the two key venues of activities of KMB-2014 as well and the names of the artists for this year’s show have been finalised by curator Jitish Kallatt. Aspinwall is undergoing a huge makeover now and the works in this regard are out there to host the show and some of the artists are also working inside.
“The architecture in Fort has been amplified and the challenge before the artists would be to create new works of art in this year’s edition to make it more attractive. The number of venues for art shows has been increased from 14 in KMB-2012 to 16 this time and all the space will be more interesting . The new venues include Moidu’s Heritage and Muhammedali House,” said Bose Krishnamachary, president of the Kochi-Muziris Biennale Foundation.
KMB Foundation secretary Riyas Komu said public projects would come up at Vasco da Gama Square. “Experimental works will be the key while giving a facelift to the traditional and conventional venues. The spice route and Muziris heritage too will be in focus and provide a sound base,” said Komu adding that the artists to be featured in the 2014 edition would be announced by Jitish Kallatt soon.
Foreigners too have started thronging Fort Kochi and Mattancherry areas as the tourist season too has been kicked off and the Biennale will be a major attraction of this year’s season.
There has been a heavy buildup to the KMB-2014 unlike the KMB-2012 and the most important event in this regard was the ‘Art and Medicine’ programme, held since February 1 last, on every Wednesday, for one-and-a-half- hours on the campus of the General Hospital, Ernakulam.
A total of 31 programmes have already been organised as part of the Art and Medicine project, which is still on. The project revolves round the concept that art is a powerful medium for healing and can be as good as medicine. Eminent artists had descended on the GH campus as part of this and they included singer-composer Bijibal, Cochin Azad, lyricist and singer Kaithapram and composers Jerry Amaldev and Berny-Ignatius. The audience comprised the patients of General Hospital and their relatives and also the staff of the hospital. Chipping in, doctors of 11 hospitals too staged a musical show, followed by a show by nurses. “It was a new experience for the artistes as well as patients and their relatives who were otherwise leading an arid life. Australian artist Daniel Connell was one of the artists who came to the campus to draw portraits of the patients, thereby overwhelming them,” said Bonny Thomas, in-charge of the project.
Daniel has bitter-sweet memories of Kochi. He had a rough brush with a few miscreants when they defaced his work of art at Fort Kochi during the maiden edition of Kochi Muziris Biennale art show in December 2012.
A ‘Weekend of Art’ is another project that is being undertaken as part of KMB-2014. Australian artist and designer Lichen Kemp interacted with children as part of this at Pepper House Residency in Fort Kochi. Australian artist Patrick O'brien held a sound-based performance at Pepper House Residency also.
“We are gearing up to give a new fare to art lovers who will be thronging KMB-2014 from all parts of the country and outside”, said Bose. Yes, from now on, all roads lead to Kochi and Fort Kochi.
