The Kochi Biennale Foundation has announced that acclaimed contemporary artist and curator Jitish Kallat will assume the role of President of the Kochi–Muziris Biennale to chair the selection of the curator for its next edition. The announcement was made by Dr. Venu V., Chairperson of the Foundation, marking a significant moment in the Biennale’s leadership transition.
Kallat, who lives and works in Mumbai, is a long-standing member of the Biennale’s Board of Trustees and previously curated the second edition of the Biennale (2014–15), Whorled Explorations. Following the recent stepping down of Bose Krishnamachari, co-founder of the Biennale, Kallat has agreed to guide the Foundation through the crucial process of selecting the next curator.
“At an important moment for the Foundation, we are grateful to Jitish Kallat for agreeing to chair the selection of the curator for the next edition of the Kochi–Muziris Biennale,” said Dr. Venu V. “His long association with the Biennale and his international experience in the contemporary art field make him well placed to take this forward.”
Jitish Kallat’s Response
Reflecting on his new role, Kallat remarked, “The Kochi–Muziris Biennale has played an extraordinary role in shaping conversations around contemporary art in India and beyond. At the Board’s request, I have agreed to chair the selection of the curator for the next edition, and I look forward to working with colleagues to ensure a thoughtful and rigorous selection.”
About Jitish Kallat
Recognised as one of India’s foremost contemporary voices, Kallat’s practice often bridges science, philosophy, and historical reflection, meditating on humankind’s planetary presence through a lens that merges the everyday with the cosmic. His prolific career includes solo exhibitions at international venues such as the Art Institute of Chicago, the Art Gallery of New South Wales, and the Philadelphia Museum of Art. The National Gallery of Modern Art, New Delhi, presented a mid-career retrospective of his work in 2017.
As a curator, Kallat has led significant projects including Whorled Explorations (2014–15), I Draw, Therefore I Think (2021), and Tangled Hierarchy (2022), among others.
The sixth edition of the Kochi–Muziris Biennale, titled For the Time Being and curated by Nikhil Chopra with HH Art Spaces, is currently underway and will conclude on March 31, 2026.
Athmaja Biju is the Editor at Abir Pothi. She is a Translator and Writer working on Visual Culture.
