The art of organising the Kochi-Muziris Biennale

Another high-profile artist takes the reins at the Kochi-Muziris Biennale—the organisers recently announced that Sudarshan Shetty has been appointed the artistic director of the third edition which is due to launch at the end of next year in southern India. After a faltering start in 2012, when the artist-curators Bose Krishnamachari and Riyas Komu overcame funding set-backs, Mumbai-based Jitish Kallat oversaw the 2014 edition which drew almost 500,000 visitors. Shetty, known for his large-scale sculptural installations, said that his edition will look back “at aspects of a shared past”, and is apparently “immensely happy to work towards the vision of a ‘People’s Biennale’.” An artistic advisory committee, which includes the artist Bharti Kher and the patron Kiran Nadar, helped select Shetty.