The Kochi-Muziris Biennale—which is now a fixture on the cultural landscape of the country—began as a government initiative, when the department of cultural affairs of the Kerala government approached artists Riyas Komu and Bose Krishnamachari in 2010 to organise an international art extravaganza. The challenge was mammoth. There was no existing infrastructure necessary for an exhibition of this scale and no institutional support structures.
“There was no weather-controlled spacing available in Kochi for exhibiting artworks,” says Krishnamachari. “That is when a friend suggested that Aspinwall House was up for sale, why did we not try speaking with the buyers, DLF. I also consulted with a few directors of other biennales like the Lyon and the Gwangju Biennale to understand how to structure one and how to find the funding. Then we put together a report and went to Delhi for the funds.” In their initial report, they had asked for a funding of 0102 crore. After all, as Krishnamachari points out, it took nearly 40 million Euros to organise a prestigious art event like Documenta in Germany. In the end, the first Kochi-Muziris Biennale was organised with 017 crore, with Komu and Krishnamachari putting in much of their personal savings into the project. “We spent very little [compared to other biennales] and got much more,’ says Kxishnamachari.
The first edition of the biennale in 2012-2013 was an undisputed triumph. Showcasing the works of 94 artists from 23 countries, the event attracted a footfall of 4 lakh visitors from all over the world. It was the only one from India listed that year in Forbes’s 13 Cultural Events to be Seen in 2012!
Diese Geschichte stammt aus der January 01, 2023-Ausgabe von THE WEEK India.
Starten Sie Ihre 7-tägige kostenlose Testversion von Magzter GOLD, um auf Tausende kuratierte Premium-Storys sowie über 8.000 Zeitschriften und Zeitungen zuzugreifen.
Bereits Abonnent ? Anmelden
Diese Geschichte stammt aus der January 01, 2023-Ausgabe von THE WEEK India.
Starten Sie Ihre 7-tägige kostenlose Testversion von Magzter GOLD, um auf Tausende kuratierte Premium-Storys sowie über 8.000 Zeitschriften und Zeitungen zuzugreifen.
Bereits Abonnent? Anmelden
MORAL COMPASS
The need to infuse ethics into India's MBA landscape
B-SCHOOLS SHOULD UNDERSTAND THAT INDIAN ECONOMY IS GOING TO WITNESS A TREMENDOUS GROWTH
INTERVIEW - Prof DEBASHIS CHATTERJEE, director, Indian Institute of Management, Kozhikode
COURSE CORRECTION
India's best b-schools are navigating tumultuous times. Hurdles include lower salaries offered to their graduates and students misusing AI
Undermining right to health
Access to quality health care is a fundamental right enshrined under Article 21 of the Constitution. But, in a country as vast and diverse as Bharat, ensuring equitable access to health care for all remains a formidable challenge.
From Sunak to Badenoch
The face of modern Britain keeps changing. Last time, the Tory prime minister of Great Britain had an Indian face. Now, the Tory party leader has a Nigerian face. Kemi Badenoch, 44, is the new leader of the Conservative Party, which Rishi Sunak led to its worst defeat in British parliamentary history. A spectacular blow by a descendant of a former colony on Winston Churchill’s party.
PEP'S CUBS
Pep Guardiola moulded two Ballon d'Or winners. And he had different methods for Messi and Rodri
She sets sail
While the number of women in the Indian maritime sector is growing, experts call for a safe and supportive ecosystem
Taking the sea ashore...
...and into space. Commander Abhilash Tomy's take on how lessons from sailing can be applied in diverse areas
FAIR WINDS
THE WEEK's Maritime Conclave 2024 saw movers and shakers from the sector talk about reclaiming India's ocean legacy
Leadership vacuum
With Palaniswami struggling to establish a hold over the AIADMK, calls for the return of expelled leaders grow stronger