After 14 years leading the Kochi-Muziris Biennale in India, the artist and curator Bose Krishnamachari will step down from his roles as president of the Kochi Biennale Foundation and member of its board of trustees.
In a statement, Krishnamachari cited “pressing family reasons” for his decision. His departure is not expected to impact the sixth edition of the biennial, For the Time Being, which opened last month and will run as scheduled until 31 March.
Krishnamachari founded the Kochi-Muziris Biennale in 2012 in Fort Kochi, a port town and historic trading hub in the southwestern state of Kerala. Established at a time when little existed in India in the way of non-commercial platforms to exhibit cutting-edge contemporary art, it remains the country's most internationally recognised exhibition.
The first edition of the biennial was curated by Krishnamachari, along with his co-founder and fellow artist Riyas Komu; Komu stepped down from the biennial following allegations of sexual harassment shortly before the opening of the fourth edition in 2018. Each subsequent edition of the biennial has been curated by a leading South Asian artist.
Under Krishnamachari’s leadership, the biennial has garnered praise for its ambitious scope and progressive politics, as well as a democratic engagement with its local audience. It has also drawn criticism for its logistical failures, ranging from accusations of labour violations and mismanagement of funds to poor communication between its organisers.
The Kochi Biennale Foundation has initiated the process of identifying an “eminent person with high credentials in the art world” to serve as the next president of Kochi-Muziris Biennale, the foundation's chair Venu Vasudevan said in a statement.