International Artist Nikhil Chopra to Curate Kochi-Muziris Biennale 2025 – Travel And Tour World

The Kochi Biennale Foundation (KBF) has announced renowned artist Nikhil Chopra and his team, HH Art Spaces, as the curators for the sixth edition of the Kochi-Muziris Biennale (KMB), a premier international exhibition of contemporary art set to open in Kochi in December 2025.

The announcement was made by Chief Minister Shri Pinarayi Vijayan at a press conference attended by Nikhil Chopra. The event also saw the participation of Tourism and Public Works Minister Shri P A Mohamed Riyas, with Thiruvananthapuram MP Shri Shashi Tharoor attending virtually. The curatorial selection was carried out by a committee of globally renowned art figures: Shanay Jhaveri, Dayanita Singh, Rajeeb Samdani, Jitish Kallat, and Bose Krishnamachari, who also serves as the KBF President.

The sixth edition of KMB is scheduled to span four months, commencing on December 12, 2025, and concluding on March 31, 2026. It will feature 60 artists and art practices from India and around the world, making it a significant event in the global contemporary art calendar.

Welcoming Nikhil Chopra, the Chief Minister said “We invite the people of Kerala, the nation and the world to join us in celebrating this spectacular event that fosters the spirit of art, community and dialogue.”

“Kochi Muziris Biennale enabled Kerala and India to make a mark in the global art map,” said Shri Shashi Tharoor. Former Kerala Chief Secretary and KBF Chair Dr Venu V and KBF CEO Thomas Varghese were present.

Highlighting the Biennale’s famed calibre to “ignite conversations about being human; poetic and political”, Nikhil Chopra hailed the eminent artistic potential of Kerala. “The ancient, the modern and the contemporary in the region have always been in critical dialogue with each other churning ideas and knowledge into wisdom,” he said.

“For me, the process or the journey of art work is more central than the destination itself. I envision this Biennale as a series of moments, where one can enter and exit. For this Biennale we look at works that lean more on process, works which are still in making as opposed to the industrial norm of valuing only the completed work. I feel it’s important to embrace the unfinished and the process,” said Chopra explaining his curatorial vision.

Introducing Nikhil Chopra and HH Art Spaces, Bose Krishnamachari highlighted the artist’s diverse practice, which blends performance, drawing, painting, photography, sculpture, and installation to critically explore themes of identity, politics, history, and the body. Chopra, who spent part of his early education in Kochi, called the opportunity to curate KMB an “incredible task” and a “humbling privilege.” He previously participated in the second edition of KMB in 2014, earning acclaim for his unconventional approach at the Aspinwall House venue.

“Nikhil’s unique perspective, paired with the creative energy of HH Art Spaces, promises to bring fresh dialogue and innovative perspectives to this global platform. We look forward to witnessing the transformative experience they will create for artists, audiences, and the community alike.”

The announcement coincides with significant structural changes at KBF, including the appointment of Dr. Venu as Chair of the Board of Trustees. A cultural and museum expert with over three decades of administrative experience, Dr. Venu has served in key roles within the cultural and tourism sectors of both the Central and Kerala governments. Other key appointments include Ms. Fereshte Sethna as legal advisor and Kuruvilla & Jose as auditors, strengthening KBF’s management and compliance framework.

“In addition to the well-recognised contributions towards art and culture, the benefits accrued to tourism and local economic development have become increasingly apparent,” Dr Venu, who has been associated with the Biennale since its first edition, said.

Mr Thomas Varghese, CEO of the foundation said “The Biennale, while remaining rooted to the unique historical and cosmopolitan sensibilities of Kochi, engages creatively with global artistic, cultural and political discourse to reimagine worldviews, which is bold and disruptive as it is austere and inclusive. This social dimension must be strengthened.”

In this new chapter, we will reaffirm the epithet ‘People’s Biennale’,” he added.

On the financial front, KBF continues to receive robust support from the Government of Kerala, international arts councils, embassies, philanthropists, and corporate sponsors. Notable supporters include the JSW Foundation, led by Chairperson Sangita Jindal, alongside prominent benefactors like Kiran Nadar (HCL Foundation and KNMA), Mariam Ram (TNQ), and Shabana Faizal (Faizal & Shabana Foundation). Long-time corporate supporters such as the BMW Group also continue their association with KBF, having supported the biennale since its inception in 2012 and through challenging times like the global pandemic.

The sixth edition of KMB is set to once again position Kochi as a vital hub for contemporary art and cultural discourse, promising an engaging and thought-provoking experience for visitors from around the globe.