KOCHI:
Kochi-Muziris Biennale demolishes the general notion that art is for the elite and that thought-provoking exhibits cater only to the upper crust of society, according to NITI Aayog CEO Amitabh Kant.
Terming the ongoing 108-day festival as “unique”, he said the Biennale in Kerala mirrors its mass base, freeing it from the clutches of the rich class. “No wonder, this has a lot of people from different sections of society participating,” said the top bureaucrat, a former secretary of Kerala Tourism.
“The Biennale truly represents India’s soft power because it brings out the best of this country’s art, culture and a variety of creativity even while hosting a lot of works from abroad,” Kant said on Thursday, after a round of the main Aspinwall House venue with his family.
Well-known feminist Subhashini Ali said the Biennale is an inspiration for every budding artist rich with creative ideas. “It is delighting to see a cross-section of society here as visitors: youngsters, the aged, middle class, local people, those from abroad…,” said Subhashini, who is president of the All India Democratic Women’s Association.
Apart from making priceless contributions to the world of art, the Kochi Biennale Foundation has maintained world-class standard in curation and ways of exhibiting the artworks besides holding cultural programs alongside it, she added.
The sea-facing Aspinwall has students of painting from MS University in Baroda, studying about the biennale for three consecutive weeks.
Sharvari Deshpande, a third year student of painting with the varsity,she was “really overwhelmed” by the exhibits as the curation. Her batch-mate Narendra, also the tour coordinator, spoke of the fresh dimensions a work of art gains in the socio-political scenario of the place that hosts it.
