Anand Patwardhan lauds Kerala government’s support for Kochi-Muziris Biennale

Kochi / January 28, 2026

Kochi, Jan 28: Documentary filmmaker Anand Patwardhan has congratulated the Kerala government for its continued support of the Kochi-Muziris Biennale, describing the international exhibition as a rare example of sustained public investment in contemporary art rooted in progressive values.

Speaking after spending more than a day at the Biennale venues, Patwardhan said he was deeply impressed by the scale and ambition of the event. “Although I’ve spent only about a day, there is so much to see. Some of the works are really exciting and it’s hard to digest everything immediately,” he said, adding that he planned to spend the remainder of his visit watching more installations and films.

Patwardhan noted that while he does not consider himself an authority on installation art, the video works left a strong impression on him. He said he was very excited to be here.

Reflecting on the Biennale’s setting, Patwardhan highlighted the significance of Kochi’s history as an old port town. He praised the adaptive reuse of decaying seafront buildings as exhibition spaces, calling it “a wonderful” alternative to demolition and commercial redevelopment. “I can’t think of a better use for those buildings than making an art exhibition out of them,” he said.

Crucially, Patwardhan emphasised the political and cultural importance of state backing for the Biennale. “I have to congratulate the Kerala government for continuing to support this festival,” he said, noting that such commitment to culture is rare among Indian states. According to him, the Biennale reflects Kerala’s progressive tradition, with many exhibits engaging directly with working-class experiences, justice, and social issues. “For me, it was wonderful to see all that,” he added.

ENDS

Photo Gallery

+

Content

+

Content