The world is his canvas

Kochi-Muziris Biennale curator Nikhil Chopra views his new role as an evolution of his artistic practice to that of a collaborator

- NIRMAL JOVIAL

On the last day of his initial site visits for the upcoming Kochi-Muziris Biennale, artist-curator Nikhil Chopra felt as though he was confronting his ghost. The iconic Aspinwall House, a sea-facing heritage property in Fort Kochi that has long served as the biennale's main venue, brought back memories of his 2014 engagement with the space. Back then, Chopra had set up a cell, taken on the persona of Black Pearl, a fictional colonial character, and transformed the walls with intricate drawings. He confined himself to that room for 52 hours, eating, sleeping and creating an immersive live performance.

"We had explored everywhere, leaving Aspinwall House for the very end, and without any deliberate planning, we ended up there. I am someone who always seeks signs, constantly searching for how the universe communicates with me," Chopra told THE WEEK. He explained that the eerie, almost mystical experience led to a profound realisation about how an artist's practice extends beyond the self, weaving together not only the various elements of their craft but also the people connected to it. "Standing in that space, I reflected on my transition-from being an artist who once performed there to now carrying the responsibility of bringing other artists into that same environment," he said.

On November 21, the Kochi Biennale Foundation announced Nikhil Chopra and HH Art Spaces, a Goa-based art collective closely associated with him, as the curatorial team for the sixth edition of the acclaimed and dynamic Kochi-Muziris Biennale, south Asia's largest contemporary art exhibition. Chopra views this new role as an evolution of his artistic practice, placing emphasis on generating collective artistic responses.