KOCHI: Assuming charge as the arts, design and cultural curator of Kochi, artist and Kochi-Muziris Biennale co-founder Bose Krishnamachari on Wednesday said he is looking forward to the day when Unesco recognises it as a ‘creative city’.
With that vision, Kochi corporation has joined hands with Bose, founding member and former president of the Kochi Biennale Foundation, to shape the cultural and design landscape of the city.
Bose assumed charge at an event held at the corporation office. It was attended by Hibi Eden MP, mayor V K Minimol, deputy mayor Deepak Joy, and other civic body officials.
“Making public spaces aesthetically user-friendly will assume top importance. Creating hygienic places, building people-friendly, people-conscious and woman-friendly areas, conversational spaces, and smaller libraries can be taken care of,” Bose told TNIE.
Drawing inspiration from global cities, Kochi can significantly improve the design of its public-transport hubs and often-neglected public toilet facilities by roping in accomplished architects and designers, depending on the available funds, he said.
“This can also become part of the development of the tourism infrastructure of the city. I look forward to Unesco calling Kochi a creative city in the future,” he said.
Bose, who has long been associated with the city’s cultural landscape, said the appointment reflects the growing cultural confidence and creative energy the “People’s Biennale” has helped generate in Kochi.
“It signals a new way of thinking about urban life, where art, architecture, public space and civic vision come together to enrich everyday experience,” he added.