Kochi Biennale accords Indian artists global context: Experts

The ongoing Kochi-Muziris Biennale '14 (KMB) has succeeded in according Indian artists a much more international context, leading international cultural ambassadors have said.

Vishakha N. Desai and Saryu V. Doshi, after a visit to the second edition of the 108-day festival here, said an Indian biennale was important for offering a platform to the host country's artists in an international context.

"Giving that platform to Indian artists allows you to see them in a different and broader context," the US-based Desai said.

"This is a significant step forward," said Desai, who was appointed by US President Barack Obama to the National Commission on Museums and Libraries in 2012.

Desai, a former director of the National Gallery of Modern Art and a member of the board of Asia Society, said the location has given KMB a greater emphasis.

Referring to the melange of cultures in Kochi and its over seven centuries of history under the rules of the Portuguese, Dutch and the British, Desai added that "time is not going away from you, but it stays with you because of the historicity".

The works of nearly 95 artists from about 30 countries have been exhibited in this second edition of the KMB, which opened Dec 12, and will last 108 days.

"It is also important how the artists have responded to the space in Kochi," said Doshi, adding that each venue of the biennale carries a specific meaning.

"That is exciting because each artist's interpretation of the location is different. The overarching concept is powerful. The total impression is that the biennale is aesthetically satisfying and well thought out," Doshi added.

It is being felt that programmes like the children's Biennale and the students' Biennale are crucial for taking the KMB forward.

"The children's Biennale and the students' Biennale are very encouraging. You need to deepen and continue the engagement with the community," she added.