‘Kala Nila’ @ Biennale: Fearless, inclusive, non-competitive spaces of learning

Kochi / November 28, 2025

Kochi, Nov 28: Amid its diverse set of works by masters from around the world, the sixth edition of the Kochi-Muziris Biennale (KMB-6) offers space for aspiring artists as well as educators to explore and strengthen their creativity.

‘Kala Nila’, a new programme of Art Room-Pedagogy & Dialogues initiated this year under the Art By Children (ABC) Programme, strives to let participants shed inhibitions, awaken their imagination, and express themselves in ways that foster a free spirit through workshops. The ABC Programme is one of the key initiatives of the Kochi Biennale Foundation (KBF) that runs alongside KMB-6.

Already, KBF has conducted four such workshops in the run-up to KMB-6, commencing on December 12. Another one is coming up. The initiative promotes collaborative art-making, contextual and reflective learning, and community engagement, reaffirming the importance of dialogue, co-creation, and empathy in shaping socially relevant art practices, according to KBF, which is organising the 110-day biennale from December 12.

Kala Nila is a continuation of the art educators’ workshop, conceived in 2020 amid the pandemic, to explore art beyond institutions and academia. It seeks to bring together artists, educators and enthusiasts to boost creativity through workshops and shared dialogue.

ABC Programme Head Blaise Joseph says Kala Nila promotes learning spaces that are inclusive and empathetic. “It is fear-free to pave the way to uphold the constitutional values of justice, liberty, equality, and fraternity,” he stated.

Blaise, a visual artist and educator, notes that non-competitive and non-judgmental spaces for adults are scarce today. “Our four workshops had visual and theatre artists, dancers, psychologists, students, researchers and sociologists. All of them wanted to explore creativity within themselves, as well as in fellow beings and the ecosystem around them. The events were held in Thiruvananthapuram, Aluva, Palakkad and Kalady. We had participants even from outside Kerala, responding to our open call,” he reveals.

Neethu K.S., an associate at ABC, said the workshops enable participants to share their vulnerabilities and strengths. “Kala Nila is about engaging them in a process through various activities that address as well as explore the inner child in you. It helps you reclaim your right to creative expression,” she points out. “It is both a space and a concept to cultivate empathy among humans and non-humans through deeper engagement in creative processes. It’s space for learning and unlearning, to question the status quo and think beyond the conventional frameworks.”

Through group activities such as games, art-based exercises and reflection sessions, besides discussions, documentary screenings, and visits to art exhibitions, the workshops foster balance, play, movement, dialogue and creative exploration. There are activities such as the ‘imaginary walk’ and ‘body mapping’, spurring participants to traverse imaginary spaces both inward and outward. The idea is to stir memories and experiences as well as express them through words, emotions and imagery.

Concurring, Anupriya, says the workshop facilitates reflections on associated memories. “They can be painful or beautiful. The workshop enables their expression in words and in visual forms, building trust and empathy,” notes the participant, who has no formal art background and is now an intern with the ABC programme. “The workshop is an eye-opener. Most adults grow up without fulfilling the basic creative needs and aspirations of their inner child. Often their design spaces are least child-friendly.”

The ‘Kala Nila’ sessions set the stage for awareness, trust and connectivity.  Nature walks, for one, kindle observation, sensory experience, intuition, and collaboration, says Abhiram, another intern with ABC. “We collect objects, feel them, make assemblages and create sound and music with them. We were also exposed to some documentaries that augment the knowledge exchange process,” he said.

Blaise notes that Kala Nila marks the beginning of a larger knowledge platform set to grow.  “So far, it has helped create a network of 70 artists: aspirants, including a few ABC programme interns. We interact through a WhatsApp group, sharing content related to art and allied education,” he said.

ENDS