All art lovers have saved their date. Starting December 12, the Kochi-Muziris Biennale is going to begin but this time, they give students a reason too to mark their calendars. The third edition of the biggest biennale in India will also see contributions from 250-300 government art school students, offering us a peak inside the minds of young artists. The work of these up and coming artists have been handpicked by 15 emerging and young curators, who took on this mammoth task last year. But the task went beyond just selecting art works one of the curators Bengaluru-based Vivek Chockalingam, informs us as we talk about one of the most awaited sections that will run parellel to arguably the largest and longest contemporary art bienniale in South Asia.
Every curator was given a chance to visit three to four Government Art Colleges. “When I first met the students, we simply discussed what this platform allows artists to explore and a little about what they do,” recalls the 30-year-old Vivek. It was only the second time that he looked at their work, asking them to draw whatever came to their mind. After workshops and seminars like this, explored their potential and helped them churn out the best art they are capable of. “We wanted to create a discussion around art, start a spark within institutions to explore art even more,” says the curator.
As a result, expect upbeat installations made from quirky material like a barber’s chair. “Students arranged their own material, which served as a challenge. They had to turn to the environment for it sometimes,” says Vivek when he describes a particular installation made from twigs and leaves which alludes the vibe of a tornado.
All curators went about this process their own way while being mentored by The Foundation for Indian Contemporary Art. Monthly reports, workshops, orientations, mock exercises in Delhi schools — the bunch of 15 went through it all this and more. After all, going out to new schools is like stepping into unfamiliar territory. Lots of unexpected things can come up and the federation made sure they were there whenever help was required.
“Two curators from Switzerland came down too, to help and guide them through this process,” informed Vidya Shivdas, the director of the foundation adding that at the same time the curators were given “space as there are many ways to approach this project. We briefed them, but at the end of the day they shaped it on their own,” said the 39-year-old director. “The resources are limited, so is the time, how much can you do with the limited resources was the challenge,” says Vidya.
The Student Biennale will be inaugurated by professor C Raveendranath, Minister for Education, government of Kerala at the Children’s Pavilion in Cabral Yard on December 13. The art work of students can also be seen at Fort Kochi, and a few other places.
Reach Out: kochimuzirisbiennale.org