Stage set for Kochi-Muziris Biennale

Creative works of 97 artists, cutting across disciplines, forms and styles will feature in the third edition of Kochi-Muziris Biennale, which, the organisers claim, is the largest celebration of contemporary art in South Asia.
The art extravaganza, titled 'Forming in the pupil of an eye', will open on December 12 and run for 108 days till March 29.
"Over that near-four month period, KMB 2016 will feature the performances and production of 97 artists, cutting across disciplines, forms and styles. The final list includes writers, dancers, poets, musicians and theatre practitioners along with a host of visual artists from 36 countries," a KMB release said here today.

In keeping with the artistic vision of its curator, eminent artist Sudarshan Shetty, KMB 2016 seeks to question the labels attributed to and blur the lines between various modes of artistic expression.
The tone had been set as early as last year with the announcement of iconic Chilean poet-revolutionary Raul Zurita as the Biennale's 'first artist'.
There are 36 Indian artists participating in the Biennale, including some of the leading lights of their respective crafts.

KMB 2016 will feature works by master cartoonist E P Unny, eminent Malayalam litterateur Anand, renowned graphic artist Orijit Sen, stage performances by Anamika Haksar and Kalakshetra Manipur, Sangam poetry recitals, dance performances and printmaking, among other artistic mediums.

"The final list of artists is but a sampling of the richness and range to be found along the art spectrum. The coming together of, and the conversations between, their diverse approaches, sensibilities, practices, creations and performances as they unfold in Kochi will showcase to the world what the 'People's Biennale' is all about," Shetty said.
The main exhibition - spread across 11 venues in Fort Kochi-Mattancherry and Ernakulam - will be supported by an ancillary programme of events that includes the Students' Biennale.
It is a unique exhibitory platform for the works of over 350 young artists from 55 schools across the country and a core component in the Kochi Biennale Foundation's art education and outreach efforts.