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The Kochi-Muziris Biennale (KMB) is an encouragement for artists across the world, said Tarun Kapoor, an advisor in the Prime Minister's Office (PMO), after viewing the artworks featured in the main venue, Aspinwall House, featuring the historic Director's Bungalow and Coir Godown.
Tarun Kapoor was on an official visit to Fort Kochi. He was accompanied by Cochin Port Trust Chairman B Kasiviswanathan and Kochi Biennale Foundation CEO Thomas Varghese, who welcomed him to the venue, according to a release. The PMO official appreciated the works of the artists for their concepts, forms, depth, scale and aesthetics that aligned with KMB's sixth edition theme, for the time being, mixing memories, histories, presence, and absence. "It's too short a visit to speak more on the works,'' he said as he listened intently to art mediator, Arundhati Karthik's introduction to the artists and explanation of their art. She walked him through the three-part work of the Panjeri Artists' Union Collective, comprising 14 artists from West Bengal, who, through visuals, have created objects brought from their home state, to make political statements on the plight of migrants. It has been installed at the entrance of the Coir Godown. Arundhati Karthik also led him through surrealistic works by Dhiraj Rabha portraying insurgency in Assam, to the life and labour in brick kilns depicted by Delhi-based Birendar Yadav, and to R B Shajith's paintings of fast-fading lush landscapes and Kerala architecture. He also closely examined Kirtika Kain's depiction of the Dalit diaspora, Pallavi Paul's installation on the body and its journey, and Biraaj Dodiya's installation on dualities. She explained the works of Zarina Muhammed and the archives of Marina Abramovic Institute (MAI) at the Aspinwall Bungalow, the release stated. Tarun Kapoor experienced the healing power of Amsterdam-based artist Abul Hisham; felt the cooling effect of Faiza Hassan's depiction of receding waves on the floor; listened to the music of Honolulu-based Bhasha Chakrabarti's quilt-making installation on diaspora; and Smitha Babu's exploration of vanishing landscapes and performance on coir workers. The official silently conversed with Anja Ibsch, working with the human body as a site; besides viewing Huma Mulji's installation and Ratna Gupta's art during his short visit (ANI)
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