Check Out this Stunning Art Exhibition Happening in Kochi

Kerala-based Kochi Biennale Foundation has organised a large-scale contemporary art survey exhibition titled &lsquoLokame Tharavadu&rsquo, which means &lsquothe world is one family&rsquo. The exhibition, curated by artist Bose Krishnamachari (who is also the president of the foundation) and supported by the state government, features the works of 267 artists who trace their roots back to Kerala.

The exhibition has been mounted in five different venues in Alappuzha and in Durbar Hall in Ernakulam.

A collection of works of each participating artist is exhibited, in an attempt to foreground each of their individual practices.

According to the organisers, the core idea of this exhibition, the world is one family, is drawn from the verses of a Malayalam poem written by Vallathol Narayana Menon, which appeals to the universal spirit of humanity, especially in these times of the Covid pandemic. The exhibition invokes the power of art to revive and resurrect the dejected human spirit.

Curator Bose Krishnamachari has conceptualised the exhibition asking certain important questions about people&rsquos ideas of home, surroundings and the world.

The show is in sync with the foundation&rsquos aim to enrich the public discourse on contemporary art, and to create a platform that will introduce global contemporary visual art theory and practice, aesthetics and art experiences to the Indian public, according to the organisers.

Interestingly, the state government has initiated a programme called the Alappuzha Heritage Project to highlight the inheritance of this once flourishing commercial city. The exhibition too has seamlessly merged with the idea. The five venues in Alappuzha largely consists of refurbished factory warehouses and sheds and one restored Port office, which complement the exhibits. So on the walls of the Port Office, you will find an artwork showing crowded snake boats (by themselves a symbol of Kerala) or an artwork exploring the region&rsquos history of coir ropes (which was known as the golden fibre in the 18^th&nbspand 19^th&nbspcenturies).

Some of the most interesting galleries have been set up in abandoned warehouses. The themes are as diverse as the artists&rsquo imaginations. From the plight of the third gender to that of jobless coir factory workers to the migrants&rsquo dilemma during the pandemic, artworks that offer an altered sense of reality as visitors move past, an artist seeking succour in colourful landscapes to keep the pandemic blues at bay, a documentary that explores the notions of home. One of the artworks which has drawn a lot of attention is by a lower primary school teacher, where she has depicted 40 women pursuing different occupations.

The exhibition is on till November 30 this year and visitors have to comply with strict COVID-19 protocols. You can get the details here 

Read Kochi's Unique Treat For The Art Hungry Souls