The Kochi-Muziris Biennale has found a place in the international tourism circuit but it has not enthused local artistes. On the contrary, several prominent local artistes have come out openly against the event to be held for three months from December 12, 2012.

The group comprising C L Porinjukutty, Kanayi Kunhiraman, K K Rajappan, Shibhu Lopez, Gopikrishnan, 
K C Chithrabhanu, N N Rimson, Tensing Joseph, Ajith 
Kumar G and T V Chandran has termed the event 
suspicious.

Their main opposition is to the sponsoring of the event by the state government and lack of representation to the local artistes. They have also questioned the manner in which the traditional art form of Kathakali has been portrayed. According to them, Kathakali is portrayed in the brochures in a vulgar manner.

A joint statement by the artistes said the previous Left Democratic Front government had allotted Rs732 million for the conduct of the festival of art without following any norms.  They have urged the present government to revoke the allotment order and conduct a vigilance inquiry into the government decision.

Tourism department officials said they were associating with the event as it would help the state attract discerning tourists into the state. Their expectations have been proved right with several international publications listing the 
Biennale as one of the most important cultural events of 2012. While The New York Times has listed Cochin/Muziris as one of the ‘45 Places to Go in 2012’ Forbes India has included it among the ‘13 Cultural Events To Be Seen At in 2012’. The Forbes India has described the biennale as India’s largest contemporary public art event.

The event is aimed at recreating the cultural legacy of the modern day Cochin and its mythical predecessor-the ancient port Muziris, the magazine said adding that the biennale will display some of the best artwork by international artists ranging from film installation to painting sculpture, new media and performance art.

The festival being organised by acclaimed painter-curators Bose Krishnamachari and Riyas Komu will be showcasing the present-day Cochin port city and the vanished ancient Muziris port. Archaeologists recently unearthed remnants of the port city settlement which started trading in spices and silk during BC era.

The site was opened to tourists last year though the excavators and conservationists are still working on it. Along with Muziris, the cultural legacy of Cochin will also 
be unfolded. The contemporary art scene of the city already offers more than a dozen venues, including a 
1695 Dutch colonial mansion and the oldest existing 
Synagogue. The organisers have also been trying to renovate the historical monuments. Last month, Chief Minister Oommen Chandy thrown open the Durbar Hall art gallery, renovated to international standards at a cost of Rs35 million. The organisers feel that it is now the finest gallery in the country which would attract talents from across the world. Lights imported from Germany and climate and pest-control facilities have been installed after the renovation by the renowned conservation architect Vikas Dilawari and lighting expert Sathish Rane.

The event has also excited the business class. The Confederation of Indian Industries (CII) has been actively associating with the Biennale as they believe that it will help boost the state’s economy, in which tourism plays a major role. CII Kerala chapter chairman has urged the detractors not to kill the event for petty reasons.

The captains of tourism industry have termed the inclusion of the biennale in The New York Times ‘Places to Go’ visit significant. They hope that the prestigious listing will help generate interest in Kerala among high-spending and discerning travellers, resulting in a spurt in foreign tourist arrivals in the state.

news@khaleejtimes.com