‘Inspiration, Not Means, Drives Creation’: Meet the First Non-Indian Curator of Kochi Biennale VENICE: The Kochi-Muziris Biennale (KMB), India’s premier contemporary art event, has announced Kader Attia as the curator for its seventh edition, set to take place in 2027-28.
This marks a historic moment for the biennale, as Attia becomes the first non-Indian to lead the event. The announcement was made by Jitish Kallat, representing the Kochi Biennale Foundation, during the pre-opening events of the Venice Biennale on Friday.
Kader Attia, a 55-year-old French-Algerian artist, is renowned for his exploration of the effects of Western modernism and colonialism on non-Western cultures.
His works are part of prestigious collections, including the Centre Pompidou in Paris, Tate Modern in London, and the Museum of Modern Art and Guggenheim in New York.
Among his most celebrated creations is *Ghost*, an installation featuring hundreds of kneeling bodies wrapped in aluminum foil, which delves into themes of community silence and socio-political erasure.
Attia brings a wealth of experience to the role, having curated the Berlin Biennale in 2022 and won France’s prestigious Marcel Duchamp Prize in 2016. He is currently exhibiting at the Venice Biennale for the second time.
Reflecting on his appointment, Attia described the Kochi Biennale as "the future" of contemporary art events. He praised its unique approach of inviting artists to serve as curators, which he believes fosters a deeper understanding between curators and participating artists.
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