Curator Kader Attia begins site visits and conversations in Kochi ahead of 7th edition of Kochi-Muziris Biennale

Kader Attia, curator of the seventh edition of Kochi-Muziris Biennale (KMB), will unveil his curatorial proposition in Mumbai on November 14, offering the first public glimpse into the vision that will shape the international contemporary art exhibition.

Curatorial Vision
- Attia will unveil his curatorial proposition in Mumbai on November 14, offering the first public glimpse into the Biennale’s direction.
- His practice centers on memory, history, repair, and colonial legacies, with “traces” as a guiding concept—marks left by trauma, joy, and lived experience.
- He emphasizes repair not just as a concept but as a phenomenon, reflecting on wounds, healing, and reciprocity with audiences.

Attia’s Connection to Kochi
- Longstanding association: participated in Whorled Explorations (2014) and Tangled Hierarchy (2022).
- Delivered the inaugural Vivan Sundaram Memorial Lecture (2025).
- His return as curator reflects Kochi Biennale’s identity—engagement with contemporary art, history, and culture.

Biennale Leadership
- Announcement made by Kochi Biennale Foundation (KBF) with Dr Venu V., Jitish Kallat, Adeeb Ahamed, and Thomas Varghese present.
- Leaders emphasized the Biennale as a collective endeavor, inviting Kerala’s public to take ownership and welcome global perspectives.

Artistic Inquiry
- Attia’s philosophy: observation is socially learned, not purely academic.
- His work explores colonial legacies in the 21st century, the invisible traces of those gone, and the interplay of wounds and repair.
- Kochi’s engaged local audience and sense of reciprocity are central to his vision.

This sets the stage for the seventh edition of Kochi-Muziris Biennale, where Attia’s curatorial lens will likely foreground themes of memory, repair, and traces of history—a deeply human approach to contemporary art.