Kochi Biennale is venue for global art exhibition: Norwegian Ambassador.
Two renowned artists from Norway, Elle Marja Eira, and Hilde Skancke, are also participating this time…reports Asian Lite News
The Kochi Muziris Biennale embodies the joy of experiencing some of the greatest modern artworks that are completely honest and created with sincerity, said the Norwegian Ambassador to India Hans Jacob Frydenlund, who was at the venue of the 5th edition of the Biennale.
“It is of high significance that the Biennale has paved the way for the exhibition of the global arts itself,” said Frydenlund.
Impressed by the creations of Norwegian artists, Frydenlund and his wife Gina Lund spent considerable time extolling the beauty of the works.
Kochi Biennale is venue for global art exhibition: Norwegian Ambassador.
Two renowned artists from Norway, Elle Marja Eira, and Hilde Skancke, are also participating this time.
“The works of both of them are beautiful and powerful. They are the pride of our nation,” the Norwegian Ambassador said.
The Kochi Biennale provides a unique experience as it reflects the various cultures from across the world and a myriad choice of subjects under a single roof, Hans Jacob Frydenlund opined.
Sangeeta Jindal's JSW Foundation pledges support for Kochi Biennale
Sangeetha Jindal, the founder, and trustee of Art India Foundation and Art India Magazine pointed out that the Kochi Biennale needs to be nurtured to a better standard….reports Asian Lite News
Sangeeta Jindal, Founding Patron of Kochi Biennale and Founding Trustee of JSW Foundation, on Monday said that JSW Steel would have deep cooperation and support for Kochi Biennale, which is the pride of the country.
The outside funding available for Kochi Biennale is significantly less compared to other biennales around the world, including those in Asia.
Sangeetha Jindal, the founder, and trustee of Art India Foundation and Art India Magazine pointed out that the Kochi Biennale needs to be nurtured to a better standard.
“A collective effort is necessary to ensure the prosperous progress of the Biennale, which brings accolades to the country from around the world. Kochi Biennale should get liberal financial support from the government and other agencies. There are several such sources within the country itself. There should be proper utilisation of such resources,” said Jindal.
“No praise and gratitude suffice for the dedication of those who keep Biennale vibrant, fighting numerous odds. It was an honor for JSW Steel to be part of creating the Biennale Pavilion designed by world-renowned architect Samira Rathod,” said Sangita Jindal.
The fifth edition of the Kochi Biennale by now has won the hearts of many who came visiting the various venues and will continue till April.
The foundation, which runs its own art gallery, has an education project aimed at bringing people closer to contemporary art…reports Asian Lite News
A delegation of 100 women entrepreneurs who are members of FLO, the women’s chapter of FICCI (Federation of India Chamber of Commerce and Industries) paid a visit to the ongoing fifth edition of the Kochi Biennale, being held here at multiple venues.
The group, led by Jayshree Menon, Chairperson, had an unforgettable experience as they benefitted immensely from the aesthetic value of the thought-provoking creations on display.
“The visit aims to empower women in the field of art learning,” said Menon.
100 women members of FICCI at Kochi Biennale.
“The members of FLO, which runs many charity organisations, will be inspired to work towards the betterment of society after being influenced by the rich ideas presented here,” she added.
The Bengaluru-based FLO chair said that “such artworks enable the audience to find meaning at levels beyond the scope of thoughts. That such a diverse exhibition of art is being held in my own country is a rich experience in life”.
The delegation’s visit was coordinated by T.S. Prasad, Director of the Sandeep and Gitanjali Maini Foundation, Bengaluru, with a focus on art, heritage, and culture.
The foundation, which runs its own art gallery, has an education project aimed at bringing people closer to contemporary art.
Pak-Myanmar reflections
Artistic presentations reflecting the life of the commons in neighbouring Pakistan and Myanmar during certain periods in history are receiving praise at the Kochi Muziris Biennale.
While photographs and a video installation belonging to renowned photographer and filmmaker Madiha Aijaz, who died in 2019, bring out the many faces of life in Pakistan, the clicks of Min Ma Naing, a Myanmar native who sought refuge in America, reveal the living conditions of people in Myanmar.
The works of Madiha Aijaz on display include five series of photographs and one video installation with Karachi as the background since it is the most densely populated and religiously, racially, and linguistically diverse city in Pakistan.
The presentation helps viewers experience the changes happening at various levels in the region, and the interaction with the subjects. The theme gets unravelled through the portrayal of public places like railways, trading centres, places of worship, and public libraries.
In the video installation ‘These Silences Are All The Words’, the social environment around libraries as explained by the librarians are depicted.
The shift from Urdu to English and its consequences are all explained here.
The untimely death of Madiha due to a heart attack at the age of 38 shocked the art and cultural scene of not only Pakistan but of the international community.
Through the photograph series ‘Forces of Change’ and ‘But In My Dreams’ which complement one another, Min Ma Naing does a probe into how three decades of authoritarian rule affected the lives of people both within the country and of those who were forced to flee.
Through ‘Forces of Change’ those from different realms of life including business persons, social activists, and writers who were willing to fight for freedom are being presented.
Those forced to flee and seek refuge in America appear in ‘But In My Dreams’.
A return to the homeland remains a dream for them.
'Toxicity'from Congo is a hit at the Kochi Biennale
The team, which created it, states that the theme ‘ToxiCity’ reflects the complexities intricately affecting the various life domains, and is to conduct an artistic probe deep into the subject….reports Asian Lite News
As the fifth edition of the Kochi Biennale progresses, an installation by a group of contemporary artists from the Democratic Republic of Congo, recreating the theme of the seventh edition of the famed Lubumbashi Biennale of the African continent, is becoming the cynosure of all eyes.
Isaac Sahani Datto, Production Manager, and ccenographer of the creation said the installation was given the name “ToxiCity”, which is a combination of the words ‘toxic’ and ‘city’, to make sure the theme is understood in all its seriousness.
“The helplessness of the downtrodden living in the vicinity of big cities is reflected here. The life of the poor in the land of the rich is being demonstrated through the medium of audio, video, and pictures, among other objects,” said Datto.
The team, which created it, states that the theme ‘ToxiCity’ reflects the complexities intricately affecting the various life domains, and is to conduct an artistic probe deep into the subject.
“ToxiCity, which strongly questions the evolutionary impact on urban life as a result of the historical interferences in the industrial, economic, environmental, social, and cultural fields, though compiled mainly with the city of Lubumbashi as the background, is relevant for all cities in the world,” added Datto.
Curated by Shubigi Rao, the fifth edition of the Kochi-Muziris Biennale was declared open for art enthusiasts last weel, and on display are over 200 projects spread across heritage properties and warehouses, galleries and public spaces across the commercial capital of Kerala, Kochi.
‘Toxicity’from Congo is a hit at the Kochi Biennale
With ‘In our Veins Flow Ink and Fire’ as the central theme, the Biennale will conclude on April 10, 2022, featuring 88 artists.
Rao said that returning after a gap of four years, the fifth edition of the Kochi-Muziris Biennale examines how we survive through songs, materiality, joy, humour, and through language, whether written, verbal or oral.
“After the states of fear, trauma and uncertain limbo of the pandemic years, it may seem strange to call for joy. Where is this optimism? Perhaps we can sense it more tangibly in artistic and collective works, especially in regional or particular contexts and forms of the artists gathered here for the Biennale,” said Rao.
She went on to point out that these artists find their counterparts across the world with work that includes questions like the possibly redemptive and revolutionary power of practice beyond the market.
