The Island Warehouse Pavilion, a key venue for the Kochi-Muziris Biennale 2025, officially opened to the public on Sunday evening. The opening marks the completion of the major venue launch for the sixth edition of the Biennale. Located on Willingdon Island, the Island Warehouse Pavilion is the largest exhibition space for this year's Biennale, spanning 20,000 square feet.
The inauguration ceremony was attended by curator Nikhil Chopra, Kochi Muziris Biennale President Bose Krishnamachari, KBF Chairperson Dr. Venu V, and representatives from HH Art Spaces. The opening of the Island Warehouse Pavilion completes the Biennale's venue rollout, joining Kochi city sites and Mattancherry-Fort Kochi in hosting exhibitions.
The Island Warehouse Pavilion is situated within an expansive industrial heritage site, providing a flexible space for large-scale contemporary art installations. The venue will showcase works by both international and Indian contemporary artists, reinforcing Kochi's position as a global art hub. Featured artists include Latoya Ruby Frazier, Dinh Q. Lê, Seshadri, Bopape, Aarati Kadam, Meenu James, Khageshwar Rout, Sabitha Kadannappalli, Raja Boro, Lakshmi Niwas Collective, Sayan Chanda, Vinoja Dharamalingam and Marina Abramović.
The Kochi-Muziris Biennale is organized by the Kochi Biennale Foundation and will run from December 12, 2025, to March 31, 2026. This edition of the Biennale extends across various locations, including historic and modern properties in Kochi, Mattancherry, Willingdon Island, and Ernakulam. These venues include repurposed warehouses, heritage buildings, and public infrastructure, embedding the event within legally protected historic spaces.
The Biennale's venues are integral to the art exhibition, showcasing more than 60 artists and collectives. The venues resonate with the theme of art as a dynamic process, with the sixth edition expanding to include 12 new venues, nine existing ones, and seven collateral venues. Other key venues include Aspinwall House, which will be partially open to visitors at the Coir Godown and the Director's Bungalow, and Pepper House, a 19th-century spice warehouse.
The Kochi-Muziris Biennale is utilizing historic structures and warehouses to create a multi-venue public cultural event. The event is transforming heritage sites and public spaces into a cultural hub. The Biennale aims to utilize repurposed warehouses and historic structures to host contemporary artists from India and abroad. The venues have been selected to resonate with the theme, emphasizing art as a dynamic and shape-shifting process.
The opening week of the Kochi-Muziris Biennale features a variety of performances, installations, music, and conversations. Events include Thayambaka performances, film screenings, processions, curatorial walkthroughs, and musical performances.
