Kochi Biennale 2018 Diaries
Introduction
Kochi-Muziris Biennale is hosted by the Kochi Biennale Foundation which is a non-profit charitable trust that promotes art & culture and educational activities in India. It’s the first of its kind to be hosted in India. Its first Edition was held in 2012. The fourth edition is currently running this year till 29th “March 2019. Mr. Bose Krishnamachari is the foundation president and happy to know that this year we have a woman curator, Anita Dube. Being an architect, it was amusing to see Ar. Tony Joseph, an architect himself in the board of trustees.
Locations
There is something very surreal and enchanting about Fort Kochi. An old world charm encapsulated in its historic buildings, old dilapidated remnants of warehouses, etc. And all these seem to make it the perfect location for such an event.
The art venues are held across 10 major locations. We planned our visit for two days. On the first day we covered the Matancherry area with the pepper house, The MAP Project Space and Anand Warehouse. The Second day was the Fort Cochin Area with Aspinwall House, Cabral Yard and Kashi Art Café.
Had to give a few misses, but if you are planning to visit, I think a three day itinerary can get you covered.
Here is a comprehensive map with the venues.
Getting there
Fort Cochin is 45km from Kochi international Airport.
Ernakulam, the main city is well connected to all the other cities in India through an extensive network of rail and road. There are two main railways stations in the city, Ernakulam Jn. and Ernakulam Town.
If you would like to enjoy the journey itself, I would suggest you catch a boat from Ernakulam Boat Jetty to Fort Kochi.
Some images below from the boat journey
Looking back at Ernakulam coastline from the boat
”Sankar Sonnet” as seen from the boat
Street View of the Entrance to Fort Cochin Ferry Terminal
Day 1 : Pepper House, MAP Project Space and Anand Warehouse
The pepper house seen above with what I would call as the rainbow maker installed in the central yard. An interactive art installation where the frame has tubes through which water is misted every thirty minutes and If you are lucky to have the sun around, you get to enjoy the rainbow. This was one of the most engaging installations in this year’s biennale and kids would absolutely love it here. This got me thinking and hoping that one day if someone somewhere got working, we could possibly enjoy the Aurora Borealis right here in kochi for the next Biennale.
