Artist and the President of Kochi Biennale Foundation brings together a larger-than-life show titled Lokame Tharavadu that poses questions about our ideas of home, surroundings and the world
Art can inspire, it can uplift and can surely bring a community together. With this thought in mind, Bose Krishnamachari of the Kochi Biennale Foundation set out to put together ‘Lokame Tharavadu’—a contemporary art exhibition featuring 267 artists in five different venues in Alappuzha, and Durbar Hall, Ernakulam. The core idea of this exhibition, ‘the world is one family’, is drawn from the verses of a Malayalam poem written by Vallathol Narayana Menon, which appeals to the universal spirit of humanity, especially in these times of the pandemic. “My attempt was to use this exhibition as a platform to imagine the coming together of a creative community despite the adversities and stand together to display the transformative potentials of art,” says Bose.
Kerala’s Art Trail
When he began the journey a few months ago, Bose did not expect the number of participants from Kerala to be so large. “I started with studio visits to familiarise myself with the contemporary art practices that sustain in Kerala. The list kept increasing as I encountered more and more talented artists who required a platform to exhibit their works in a properly curated and well-designed exhibition. This exhibition is a global survey of Malayali contemporary artists who are constantly experimenting and responding to their surroundings. They lack a professional space, empowering environment and most importantly a rigorous curatorial approach,” he adds.
‘Lokame Tharavadu’ is conceptualised as a solo show of each participating artist, created as a spatial experience where art is viewed in heritage spaces like the Port Museum, Kerala State Coir Corporation, and more. In addition to putting together the massive show with his team, with the backing from the Kerala government, art patrons and the local administration of Alappuzha, Bose has also curated a section in the Durbar Hall Art Gallery, Eranakulam. It features the works of renowned Malayali artists who are considered the stalwarts of Indian modernism—A Ramachandran, Velu Viswanadhan, Akkitham Narayanan, NKP Muthukoya, G Rajendran, BD Dethan and Vasudevan Namboothiri.
The Inspiration
When asked about the inspiration behind this exhibition, Bose reveals, “Most artists, including me, have been confined to our homes for the last many months. This inspired many of us to profoundly think about our home, surroundings and the world. These poignant thoughts led to the conception of the exhibition. It invokes the power of art to revive and resurrect the dejected human spirit.”
He hopes that with this exhibition, viewers will be able to take art more seriously and understand that exhibitions are not passive affairs; they activate the cultural spaces around them and facilitate dynamic community participation. Visitors can see different practices such as video works, augmented reality, performance art, large-scale murals, etc along with conventional practices like painting, sculpture, drawings.
‘Lokame Tharavadu’ is ongoing until June 30, 2021, at Alappuzha (Port Museum, Kerala State Coir Corporation, New Model Society Building, Eastern Produce Company Ltd/The Alleppey Company Ltd, William Goodacre & Sons Pvt Ltd) and Durbar Hall, Ernakulam
Photography by Kochi Biennale FoundationApril 23, 2021
Source : https://www.architecturaldigest.in/story/kerala-bose-krishnamachari-curates-an-exhibition-with-270-artists-to-uplift-spirits-during-these-dark-times/ fbclid=IwAR1kz1d9ACm9mRByaA0skOZFOwUY4j0pKmc-GCcUX2bYJu2KAq5y61uvFrA
