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Nikhil Chopra during a show astatine The Met successful New York City. (Source: The Metropolitan Museum of Art)
The sixth variation of the Kochi-Muziris Biennale (KMB), which is to be held from December 2025 to March 2026, volition be curated by creator Nikhil Chopra and his squad HH Art Spaces. The announcement was made by Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan astatine a property league successful Thiruvananthapuram connected November 20. “KMB 2025 is poised to beryllium 1 of the astir memorable editions of the Kochi-Muziris Biennale. Let america articulation unneurotic to observe this spectacular lawsuit that fosters the tone of art, assemblage and dialogue,” said Vijayan.
Welcoming Chopra, KMB president Bose Krishnamachari said, “Known for his evocative and immersive work, Nikhil’s collaboration with the KBF volition undoubtedly bring successful a caller and dynamic position to the biennale, delivering an experience, and promises to resonate profoundly with the visitors, some from Kerala and astir the world.”
Introducing his creation signifier astatine the league done an audio-visual presentation, 50-year-old Chopra noted that helium was “honoured” and “humbled”.
India’s archetypal biennale of planetary modern art, the lawsuit that had its inaugural variation successful December 2012 has been grappling with challenges successful caller years. Postponed a time earlier it was to unfastened its 5th variation successful 2022, the sixth variation of the biennale was initially scheduled to beryllium held successful December 2024.
According to a merchandise issued, successful 2025-26 the lawsuit volition diagnostic 60 artists and creator practices from India and crossed the world. In its past variation successful 2022-2023, the biennale featured 90 artists.
In caller months, respective organisational changes person besides been announced successful the Kochi Biennale Foundation (KBF). While erstwhile Chief Secretary to the Government of Kerala V Venu has been appointed arsenic the chairperson of the KBF, erstwhile United Nations authoritative Thomas Varghese is present the CEO of the foundation.
Based successful Goa, Chopra’s creation signifier interweaves varied mediums, from performative to painting, photography, drafting and installations, among others. The postgraduate successful good arts from Ohio State University successful the US has exhibited astatine prestigious museums and galleries satellite over, and participated successful events specified arsenic Performa (New York), Venice Biennale and Documenta successful Germany. A participating creator successful the 2014 variation of the Biennale, Chopra’s 52-hour agelong unrecorded show astatine Aspinwall House was 1 of its highlights.
Receiving funds from the Government of Kerala too arts councils, embassies, philanthropists and firm sponsors, the erstwhile editions of the Biennale person been curated by artists specified arsenic Jitish Kallat (2014-15), Sudarshan Shetty (2016-17), Anita Dube (2018-19) and Shubigi Rao (2022-23). Its archetypal variation successful 2012 was curated by its co-founders Riyas Komu and Krishnamachari, who had initially ideated the lawsuit successful 2010 with the past civilization curate of Kerala, MA Baby.
Speaking astir the contributions and value of the KBM, joining the property league virtually, MP Shashi Tharoor added, “It has truly provided a prestigious level for Indian artists to showcase their enactment alongside planetary peers, enhancing their visibility and opportunities connected the planetary stage. It has enactment India connected the planetary creation representation and has besides encouraged innovation, experimentation due to the fact that of the divers mediums it facilitates specified arsenic installations, caller media, show art, and the enactment of Nikhil Chopra underscores that.”
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