health
February 3, 2026
Monsoons, mould … and a million visitors: welcome to Kerala’s ‘people’s biennale’
Work by almost 70 artists – including Marina Abramović – has made an art fair in Kochi one of the hottest tickets in south Asia. This sixth instalment uses farmers’ fields and patched-up buildings to take visitors ‘back to nature’
TL;DR
- The Kochi-Muziris Biennale is described as being 'created' rather than curated, with an intuitive approach to placing artworks.
- The biennale is held in historic colonial warehouses and bungalows in Fort Kochi, Kerala, with 66 artists participating.
- The title 'For the Time Being' reflects the intention for visitors to be present in the moment.
- The biennale features works addressing social and environmental issues, such as the exploitation of brick industry laborers and the impact of farming practices.
- Half of the participating artists are Indian and Keralan, with a deliberate focus on subcontinent artists and relationships forged over time.
- International artists like Marina Abramović, Ibrahim Mahama, and Adrian Villar Rojas are also invited.
- Kolkata-based artist Jayashree Chakravarty's work 'Shelter: For the Time Being' memorializes disappearing marshlands.
- The curators had to be agile in dealing with the environmental conditions of the spaces, which were renovated derelict places.
- The biennale expects a million visitors and maintains its reputation as a 'people's biennale' with affordable tickets.
- Kochi's location and history as a melting pot of cultures are highlighted, with various religious sites in proximity to the biennale venues.
- The event is seen as a cultural outing that encourages critical thinking and engagement.
Continue reading the original article