Noted artist Jitish Kallat will be the curator for the second edition of India's only biennale-- 'Kochi Muziris Biennale 2014.'
The 39-year-old Kallat, was selected unanimously as the artistic director/curator by the Kochi Biennale Foundation special advisory board, which met in Mumbai on October 14, in which Bose Krishnamachari and Riyas Komu, co-curators of first biennale in 2012-13, also participated.
Kochi Mayor Tony Chammany announced Kallat's name at a press meet here today.
The mayor said efforts would be made to set up a permanent venue for the biennale and the corporation will take necessary steps for it, he said.
Kallat said he was excited to take up the challenging project. To a query, he said they might look at other sites in Kochi to hold the biennale.
Describing Kallat as one of the most celebrated contemporary Indian artists internationally, Bose Krishnamachari, KBF president, said the foundation was proud to have a young and brilliant artist as the curator.
Currently, he has an ongoing solo exhibition titled 'Epilogue' at the San Jose Museum of Art which will go on till April 20 next year.
His works have been exhibited widely at museums and institutions including Tate Modern (London), Martin Gorpius Bau (Berlin) and Gallery of Modern Art (Brisbane) and he has also participated in various biennale.
In the run up to 2014, the foundation is planning to engage in a variety of educational and cultural activities. The KBF also plans to introduce several programmes, especially for the children.
In the inaugural edition, the curtains went up on December 12, and works of 89 artists from 23 countries were highlighted. It saw a revelry of different mediums, including painting, sculpture, installation, film, digital media and performing arts at sites in Kochi and Muziris region. Nearly four lakh people visited the 96-day show.
Talks are being held with the government with regard to funding, Komu said.
