By Ashraf Padanna/Kochi
The cosmopolitanism of the Kochi-Muziris Biennale (KMB) international exhibition of contemporary art and this ancient city has fascinated a group of faculty and students from Qatar’s Virginia Commonwealth University which specialises in courses related to art.
The organisers of the art exhibition said in a statement yesterday that the 25-strong group considered the event a “perfect opportunity to look at the continuity of history and the cultural exchange that came from trade.”
“We love the idea here of looking beyond Eurocentric models,” the statement quoted Dr Dina Bangdel, associate professor and director of art history who organised the two-day trip, as saying.
“This was a good opportunity to undo the stereotype of the exotic and study the confluences of culture and cosmopolitanism here. This biennale is a perfect microcosm of the issue.”
The students, who are doing courses in art history, painting and printmaking and fashion design, were keen to look at “the potential of replicating this dynamic production of art and how art is involved in the community.”
“These students are the future of art in Qatar,” said Dr Bangdel. “So, we were keen to bring them here to ask how they saw themselves in these roles.”
The group was amazed by how the old spaces had been adapted to contemporary art. Some of the students had seen Lebanese artist Mona Hatoum’s ‘Undercurrent’ at a gallery in Qatar, but here “the same work is redefined and seemed so powerful in the space.”
“It is good to come with the students and talk and reflect on the works,” said Dr Jochen Sokoly, the German director of the university’s gallery and art history professor. “In this space, the installations seem more tangible. It is on a very human scale unlike galleries, which seem distant.”
Artist-in-residence Sage Lewis found the KMB’14 ambitious and inspiring in how it connects with the world. “I am always looking to familiarise students with the works of new artists,” said the American, who is a painting and printmaking faculty.
“I will go back and use the works of biennale artist Shumon Ahmed and Khalil Rabah as references to take an experimental photography class,” he added.
KMB ’14 director of programmes Riyas Komu said there were “no strong cultural relationships in contemporary art, or in fact other arenas.”
“We hope to build ties and start residency programmes and exchanges, particularly with Mathaf, the museum of modern and contemporary art in Doha,” he said.
“Amit Jain, who did one of our collateral projects and has worked there, has been very proactive in building this relationship. Historically, Kerala has had these relationships and we need to rethink how we can take these ahead today.”
Students from Qatar’s Virginia Commonwealth University admire Shanthamani Muddaiah’s installation titled ‘Backbone’ at KMB ‘14.
