Thiruvananthapuram: The Kochi Biennale Foundation (KBF) today announced renowned artist Nikhil Chopra and his team HH Art Spaces as the curators for the sixth edition of Kochi-Muziris Biennale (KMB), a cutting-edge international exhibition of contemporary art commencing in Kochi in December 2025.
The selection of curators was made by a committee of internationally acclaimed art world figures Shanay Jhaveri, Dayanita Singh, Rajeeb Samdani, Jitish Kallat and Bose Krishnamachari, who is also president of KBF.
The mega show, spanning four months, will begin on December 12, 2025. The event, which will feature 60 artists and artistic practices from India and across the world, is to conclude on March 31, 2026.
Introducing Nikhil Chopra along with his team HH Art Spaces based in Goa, Bose Krishnamachari noted that the versatile artist’s work that blends performance, drawings, paintings, photography, sculpture and installation critically explores issues of identity, politics, history, and the body.
Nikhil Chopra, who had his early education in Kochi, described the KBF curatorship as an ‘incredible task’ and ‘humbling privilege.’ He had featured in the second KMB (2014) and won acclaim for his work’s off-beat approach at the Aspinwall House venue.
Highlighting the Biennale’s famed calibre to “ignite conversations about being human; poetic and political”, Nikhil Chopra hailed the eminent artistic potential of Kerala. “The ancient, the modern and the contemporary in the region have always been in critical dialogue with each other churning ideas and knowledge into wisdom,” he said.
Thomas Varghese, CEO of the foundation said “The Biennale, while remaining rooted to the unique historical and cosmopolitan sensibilities of Kochi, engages creatively with global artistic, cultural and political discourse to reimagine worldviews, which is bold and disruptive as it is austere and inclusive. This social dimension must be strengthened.”
As for the finances, KBF has been receiving funds from the Government of Kerala, besides arts councils and embassies, along with a group of leading philanthropists and corporate sponsors.
Prominent Indian philanthropic bodies such as JSW Foundation (represented by Chairperson Sangita Jindal) will support KBF on a long-term basis. This includes Kiran Nadar (HCL Foundation and KNMA), Mariam Ram (TNQ), Shabana Faizal (Faizal & Shabana Foundation).
Kerala Biz News