‘Biennale to be a Permanent Avenue for Art and Cultural Exchange’: Kadakampally Surendran

KOCHI:
With Aspinwall House confirmed to be made the permanent venue for the Kochi-Muziris Biennale, Kerala Tourism Minister Kadakampally Surendran said here today that the space would be used as a hub for artistic and cultural exchanges between states and between countries during non-Biennale years.
“The government is convinced that Aspinwall House and the adjoining area are best suited for conducting the Biennale. The Kochi Biennale Foundation, which organises the event, is of the same opinion. The government is keen on making this land and building a permanent venue, but that doesn’t mean that ownership of this property is handed over to the organisers. It just means we will provide a space to conduct the art event without interruption. I am making this clear because there are inaccurate rumours regarding this topic,” the minister said.
Speaking after a three-hour tour of Aspinwall House, Kadakampally said, “The Biennale has already drawn around five lakh visitors, including locals, domestic tourists and foreigners. This shows the increasing popularity of Biennale. The government is convinced that the Biennale has been influential to the local communities and for people from various walks of life. This is one of the chief reasons why we have decided to increase our support for this art event.”
Terming the Biennale a “perfect model of cultural tourism” that introduces contemporary art practices from around the world to artists and art lovers in Kerala and across
India, he said “We could turn the Biennale into a gateway to other important tourism initiatives like the Muziris Heritage Project and the Spice Route project.”
“Kottapuram Fort, a property in Kodungallur that is a part of the Muziris Heritage Project, is now a venue of the Biennale. It has seen an increase in visitors over the past few months. Plans are underway to ensure that visitors who come for the Biennale don’t miss experiencing Muziris and the Spices Route project. Three meetings have been held in last two months regarding this linkage. We are focusing on promoting heritage tourism to the region,” he added.
Of the artistic production at the primary KMB 2016 venue, the minister said, “Every artwork on display is unique in its message and meaning. They are capable of changing our conventional understanding of art. Each prompts us to view art from a varied perspective. Different expressions, different worlds and different meanings are imbued into each work.”