3 min readKochiDec 13, 2025 06:22 AM IST
First published on: Dec 13, 2025 at 06:22 AM IST
On Friday, when Kerala-based indie band ‘Shanka Tribe’ took the stage at Parade Ground in Fort Kochi at the inauguration of the sixth edition of the Kochi-Muziris Biennale, their music carried beyond the grounds. The sense of shared rhythm echoed artist-curator Nikhil Chopra and HH Art Spaces’ curatorial proposition for this edition, which views the biennale as a site of “friendship economies”, nurtured by artist-led initiatives.
Inaugurated by Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, also present at the event were founder mentors of the biennale, politicians M A Baby and K V Thomas. Apart from the Kochi Biennale Foundation members and the curators, the event also saw several artists and gallerists, among others.
Pinarayi said, “The Biennale’s impact has been extraordinary… Besides the field of contemporary arts, it has strengthened local and national economies, benefiting tourism, hospitality, transport, and countless small businesses. Recognised globally, it has earned international media attention, national honours, and most importantly, the support and affection of the people of Kerala.”
At noon, the biennale flag was hoisted at Aspinwall House, one of the key venues of the event since its inaugural edition in 2012. This time, though, a wall divides the space — with one part belonging to the state government available for the exhibition. The rest of the property belongs to DLF. The partition hasn’t much impacted the scale of the biennale but it has reshaped it, as it has now expanded to 22 venues across Fort Kochi, Mattancherry, Ernakulam and Willingdon Island.
The list of 66 participating artists/collectives, meanwhile, includes veterans such as Gieve Patel and Jyoti Bhatt to popular international names such as Marina Abramović (Serbia), Ibrahim Mahama (Ghana), Adrian Villar Rojas (Argentina), LaToya Ruby Frazier (US), and Otobong Nkanga (Nigeria). “This is a labour of love,” said Chopra, opening the gates of the biennale for the people, also terming it as a “gift” to them from the Kochi Biennale Foundation (KBF). Among the first to enter was Manju Varghese, 26, who planned to spend the afternoon meeting artists and seeing their work. “Many of the artists are still on-site on the first day and I find it interesting to be able to discuss their work with them.”
All participating artists are seldom present on site, but Pakistani artists Huma Mulji and Bani Abidi will not be travelling due to visa constraints. This year, what also awaits viewers are several performances, extending to the entire three months of the biennale, also a reflection of Chopra’s own practice as a performance artist.
Artist Sandra Mujinga, whose installation at the biennale explores links between Kochi and her home country, the Democratic Republic of Congo, through the traditions of the fishing communities, said, “I want people to spend time with the work and unravel its many layers.”
CM Pinarayi Vijayan inaugurates the Kochi-Muziris Biennale, Friday 
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