Kochi becomes Biennale city

The world over, biennales are known by the cities that host them, a trend set off by Venice when it held the

world’s maiden biennale in 1895.

On Wednesday, the coastal city of Kochi joined the ivy-league by positioning itself as India’s first true-blue

‘Biennale City’ .

 Kochi-Muziris Biennale was kicked off at a high-voltage ceremony at Fort Kochi, a cultural melting pot, by

Chief Minister Oommen Chandy.

For three months from now, the global art world would portray itself across 14 venues and over 60

exhibition spaces in Fort Kochi, Mattancherry and the erstwhile Muziris area, some 30 km north of it. Over

80 artists from 23 countries are taking part in the grand art carnival.

The coastal township is already a beehive of activity with street art, giant installations, paintings, sculptures

and multimedia works of art dotting its bylines and at over three lakh sq ft of structured exhibition spaces