New Delhi/Thiruvananthapuram, July 15
Sudarshan Shetty, one of the most innovative contemporary artists in
India, was on Wednesday named the curator of the third edition of the
Kochi Muziris Biennale (KMB) 2016. Shetty said the biennale will be
"more democratic and innovative" this time.
"KMB has contributed
to Kerala's culture, tourism and hospitality industries and renewed
India's cultural position in the world. We will extend full support to
the programme in the coming years," said state Culture Minister K.C.
Joseph while announcing Shetty's name as curator.
Shetty, 54, takes over the mantle from Jitish Kallat. The third edition of the biennale begins on December 12.
Mumbai-based
Shetty's installations and multi-media work have been displayed across
the US and Europe. His work also featured in the first KMB and he is the
only Indian artist commissioned to create a public sculpture in Japan.
He is an alumnus of the JJ School of Art in Mumbai.
"Through just
two biennales, the KMB has acquired the role of one of the most
important exhibitions globally," said Shetty, who was present with his
wife and daughter.
"It is a privilege to be named curator," he said.
KMB
14 was a 108-day event, spread across eight venues, featuring 52
international and 42 Indian artists, and received nearly five lakh
visitors.
Lok Sabha member from Thiruvananthapuram Shashi
Tharoor, who was present at the event, said: "It is good to have a
curator who has worked in various mediums and so can understand in
various ways how art can capture aspects of life."
"We have
overcome some of the parochial mentalities in recognising the role of
the KMB and people are coming from all over the country and the world to
see it. So, we should strongly invest in it," Tharoor added.
The
new curator was selected after a month-long deliberation by a panel
comprising artists Amar Kanwar, Atul Dodiya, Bharti Kher, Jyoti Basu,
and patrons Kiran Nadar, Ranjit Hoskote, Shireen Gandhi, V. Sunil, and
also Kochi Biennale Foundation president Bose Krishnamachari and
secretary Riyas Komu.
Talking to IANS, Shetty, a renowned sculptor, said he was excited about the responsibility.
"It's
an ardous task, but I am excited about the new responsibility. Though
it's too early to talk about the plans, I want it to be more democratic
and I would like people to have more conversations with various
locations in Kochi," he said.
Shetty said the process of choosing the artists will take a few months of research.
About the success of the biennale, Shetty said the first two editions exceeded expectations.
"It
is important for India to have a biennale and it helped project the
country in the art market. Artists from all over the world participated
and the biennale has established itself as a centre for artistic
engagement," he said.
The first two editions of the biennale, held in 2012 and 2014, had a combined draw of nearly a million visitors.
Shetty said Kochi's cosmopolitan nature helped in the biennale's success.
"We can't have a better location than Kochi. It has a cosmopolitan feel," he said.
Shetty's
recent shows include "Mimic Momento", Galerie Daniel Templon, Brussels,
2015, "Constructs Constructions", curated by Roobina Karode, Kiran
Nadar Museum of Art, New Delhi, 2015.
In 2010, Shetty presented a work for Louis Vuitton called the "House of Shades", an installation with 700 pairs of sunglasses.
