Children Paint, Listen, Learn During Visit to KMB ‘16

KOCHI:
A rapt audience of children listened intently to two theatre performers, one of whom was dressed up like a clown, as they broke into a song and dance at one of the venues of the ongoing Kochi-Muziris Biennale here.
The storytelling programme is part of the Art by Children (ABC) outreach project of the biennale, which hosts art and storytelling workshops to actively reach out and engage young visitors to the international art exhibition.
“Initially the children were a bit reluctant to engage with the two artists, but once Akhil and Arun started narrating stories and singing, the kids responded with great interest,” said Manu Jose, theatre actor and organiser of ABC.
Renowned Malayali writer KL Mohana Varma, who visited the biennale with his young grandchildren, spoke about the enormous role played by the art showcase in fostering the imagination of children.
“We try to fit them into boxes, but the biennale is a ground to grow their imagination,” he said. The author also suggestedmaking it compulsory for every school to bring students on a two-day tour to the biennale.
Today, a big batch of Student Police Cadres (SPC)from the Government HSS, Thoppumpady were introduced to the concept of the biennale by artist Riyas Komu, co-founder of the KMB.
“Don’t walk in line when you are here, look at the exhibits at your pace,” he advised them.
“Our aim, through the biennale, is to build an ecosystem to appreciate art and enhance society’s outlook. There are various mediums – painti
ng, sculpture, music, video and theatre – used here. This will expand your knowledge in your future chosen professions,” he told the young visitors.
As part of a three-day Christmas camp at TD High School for SPCs, 82 students from Mattancherry’s TD High School were also brought here.
Despite the presence of Biennale volunteers trained to explain the artworks and installations, the students were eager to see and make their own interpretations.
“The more time we spend looking at a work, the more we see what the artist has meant, and sometimes we read our own meaning in it,” Anuchandra, a class eight student of TD High SchooI, who picked cartoons of EP Unny and the installation ‘Garbh’ by GR Iranna as favourites.