Thiruvananthapuram, Nov 20 (PTI) The 6th edition of the Kochi-Muziris Biennale, the country’s largest contemporary art exhibition, will commence in December 2025, with renowned Indian contemporary artist Nikhil Chopra curating the nearly four-month-long event, Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan announced on Wednesday.
Highlighting Chopra’s achievements, Vijayan described him as a distinguished artist whose work spans drawings, paintings, photographs, sculptures, and installations.
Chopra, the founder of the Goa-based HH Art Spaces—an artist-run collective and movement—will collaborate with his team to curate the 2025 Biennale.
The upcoming edition will feature 60 artists and artistic practices from India and across the globe, the Kochi Biennale Foundation (KBF) stated in a release.
According to Chopra’s Instagram profile, his artistic practice "interweaves live art, drawing, photography, sculpture, and installations."
Explaining his curatorial vision, Chopra said, "For me, the process or the journey of creating artwork is more central than the destination itself. I envision this Biennale as a series of moments where one can seamlessly enter and exit. We are focusing on works that emphasise the process—those still in the making—rather than the conventional norm of valuing only completed pieces. It’s important to embrace the unfinished and the journey."
Scheduled to run from December 12, 2025, to March 31, 2026, the Biennale promises to be one of its most memorable editions, according to Vijayan. "Let us come together to celebrate this spectacular occasion that fosters the spirit of art, community, and dialogue," he said.
The selection of curators was overseen by a committee of internationally acclaimed art figures, including Shanay Jhaveri, Dayanita Singh, Rajeeb Samdani, Jitish Kallat, and Bose Krishnamachari, who also serves as the KBF president, the release noted.
Congress MP Shashi Tharoor, addressing the event virtually from Delhi, praised the Biennale’s transformative impact on Kerala and India’s art scene since its inception in December 2012. He highlighted its extraordinary contributions to India’s art landscape, positioning Kerala as a key player on the global contemporary art map.
Tharoor stressed the Biennale’s role in boosting tourism by attracting thousands of global visitors and showcasing the state’s rich heritage and thriving art culture.
He also lauded the Biennale for providing a "prestigious platform" for Indian artists to present their work alongside international talents, fostering innovation across diverse mediums like installations, new media, and performance art.
The Biennale has facilitated cultural exchange and dialogue, bringing together artists, curators, and audiences from varied backgrounds to engage with contemporary issues through art, Tharoor observed.
He urged the state government to continue supporting the Biennale, which has revitalised Kerala’s cultural landscape and garnered international acclaim.
Former Kerala Chief Secretary V Venu, recently appointed as the KBF chairperson, was also present at the function.