Far from being a static showcase, this Biennale is being reimagined as an evolving and organic cultural landscape—one that thrives on collaboration, experimentation and community
Published Jul 17, 2025 | 7:30 PM ⚊ Updated Jul 17, 2025 | 7:30 PM
Titled ‘For the Time Being’, the upcoming edition will be helmed by renowned multidisciplinary artist Nikhil Chopra and will unfold over 110 days, concluding on March 31, 2026.
Kochi is gearing up to once again become the vibrant hub of contemporary art as the Kochi Biennale Foundation announced the curatorial vision and theme for the sixth edition of the Kochi-Muziris Biennale, slated to open on December 12.
Titled ‘For the Time Being’, the upcoming edition will be helmed by renowned multidisciplinary artist Nikhil Chopra and will unfold over 110 days, concluding on March 31, 2026.
Far from being a static showcase, this Biennale is being reimagined as an evolving and organic cultural landscape—one that thrives on collaboration, experimentation and community.
According to Chopra’s curatorial note, the exhibition moves away from the traditional notion of a singular, grand event and instead embraces a model that treats art as a continuous, process-driven practice. It seeks to foreground the value of long-standing artist networks and “friendship economies” that have historically supported such initiatives.
“In a city like Kochi—a historic port once central to global trade routes—we root ourselves in local stories to engage with wider, international conversations,” reads the note. ”This grounding offers us a way to resist the spectacle-driven expectations of biennales, instead building something that is constantly responding, shifting and alive.”
The 2025-26 Biennale will include a rich array of events and experiences: an international exhibition, talks, workshops, performances, film screenings and more. Signature platforms such as the Students’ Biennale, Invitations, Art By Children, and the Residency Programme will span across multiple locations throughout the city.
Nikhil Chopra, who leads the curation, brings a deeply immersive approach to the table. Known for blending performance, drawing, photography, sculpture and installation, he is also part of HH Art Spaces, a dynamic artist-led initiative in Goa.
As the calendar inches closer to December, Kochi is poised to once again transform into a thriving artistic ecosystem—where creativity flows freely, disciplines dissolve, and the spirit of collaboration takes centre stage.
