Nikhil Chopra and HH Art Spaces to Curate Kochi-Muziris Biennale 2025

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM:
The Kochi Biennale Foundation (KBF) today announced renowned artist Nikhil Chopra and his team HH Art Spaces as the curators for the sixth edition of Kochi-Muziris Biennale (KMB), a cutting-edge international exhibition of contemporary art commencing in Kochi in December 2025.

The announcement was made by Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan here at a press conference in the presence of Nikhil Chopra, which was attended by Tourism and Public Works Minister P A Mohamed Riyas. Thiruvananthapuram MP Shashi Tharoor attended the event virtually.

The selection of curators was made by a committee of internationally-acclaimed art world figures Shanay Jhaveri, Dayanita Singh, Rajeeb Samdani, Jitish Kallat and Bose Krishnamachari, who is also president of KBF.

The mega show, spanning four months, will begin on December 12, 2025. The event, which will feature 60 artists and artistic practices from India and across the world, is to conclude on March 31, 2026.

Welcoming Nikhil Chopra, the Chief Minister said “We invite the people of Kerala, the nation and the world to join us in celebrating this spectacular event that fosters the spirit of art, community and dialogue.”

“Kochi Muziris Biennale enabled Kerala and India to make a mark in the global art map,” said Shashi Tharoor. Former Kerala Chief Secretary and KBF Chair Dr Venu V and KBF CEO Thomas Varghese were present.

Introducing Nikhil Chopra along with his team HH Art Spaces based in Goa, Bose Krishnamachari noted that the versatile artist’s work that blends performance, drawings, paintings, photography, sculpture and installation critically explores issues of identity, politics, history, and the body.

Nikhil Chopra, who had his early education in Kochi, described the KBF curatorship as an ‘incredible task’ and ‘humbling privilege.’

He had featured in the second KMB (2014) and won acclaim for his work’s off-beat approach at the Aspinwall House venue.

Highlighting the Biennale’s famed calibre to “ignite conversations about being human; poetic and political”, Nikhil Chopra hailed the eminent artistic potential of Kerala. “The ancient, the modern and the contemporary in the region have always been in critical dialogue with each other churning ideas and knowledge into wisdom,” he said.

“For me, the process or the journey of art work is more central than the destination itself. I envision this Biennale as a series of moments, where one can enter and exit. For this Biennale we look at works that lean more on process, works which are still in making as opposed to the industrial norm of valuing only the completed work. I feel it’s important to embrace the unfinished and the process,” said Chopra explaining his curatorial vision.

Bose Krishnamachari said, the deep-rooted commitment of Nikhil Chopra and his team to the arts, along with their visionary approach to curating, will undoubtedly shape a remarkable chapter for the Biennale.

“Nikhil’s unique perspective, paired with the creative energy of HH Art Spaces, promises to bring fresh dialogue and innovative perspectives to this global platform. We look forward to witnessing the transformative experience they will create for artists, audiences, and the community alike.”

Today’s media conference also comes in the wake of KBF Board of Trustees completing a ‘rigorous restructure process’ with Dr Venu being appointed as the KBF Chair. A culture and museum expert, Dr Venu’s rich administrative experience of three-and-a-half decades stems from an array of assignments in the cultural and tourism sectors with the Central and Kerala governments.

“In addition to the well-recognised contributions towards art and culture, the benefits accrued to tourism and local economic development have become increasingly apparent,” Dr Venu, who has been associated with the Biennale since its first edition, said.

Thomas Varghese, CEO of the foundation said “The Biennale, while remaining rooted to the unique historical and cosmopolitan sensibilities of Kochi, engages creatively with global artistic, cultural and political discourse to reimagine worldviews, which is bold and disruptive as it is austere and inclusive. This social dimension must be strengthened.”

In this new chapter, we will reaffirm the epithet ‘People’s Biennale’,” he added.

The appointment of senior lawyer Fereshte Sethna as legal advisor and Kuruvilla & Jose as the foundation’s auditor will further augment management and compliance.

As for the finances, KBF has been receiving funds from the Government of Kerala, besides arts councils and embassies, along with a group of leading philanthropists and corporate sponsors. Prominent Indian philanthropic bodies such as JSW Foundation (represented by Chairperson Sangita Jindal) have joined an illustrious group of Platinum Benefactors to support KBF on a long-term basis. This includes Kiran Nadar (HCL Foundation and KNMA), Mariam Ram (TNQ), Shabana Faizal (Faizal & Shabana Foundation).

Leading corporations such as BMW Group continue to support the KBF, having done so since inception in 2012, and also during the global pandemic.