‘Lokame Tharavadu’ (The World is One Family), a contemporary art exhibition featuring 266 artists, who trace their roots to Kerala, will open to the public from Monday (April 19) in Alappuzha.
The art festival is being organized by the Kochi Biennale Foundation with the support from the departments of tourism and culture under the Government of Kerala, and the Alappuzha Heritage Project being implemented under the guidance of the Muziris Heritage Project Limited.
The two-and-a-half-month-long event is spread across five different heritage venues in Alappuzha – The Kerala State Coir Corporation, New Model Society Building, Port Museum, Eastern Produce Company Limited and William Goodacre & Sons Private Limited – and one in Ernakulam, The Durbar Hall Art Gallery.
 at a workshop by artist John Baby (left) at the art room of the Kochi-Muziris Biennale in December-sqimage.jpg.transform/170x160/image.jpg "How biennale’s famed ‘art room’ came into being, why they must go on")
Entry adhering to Covid-19 protocols
Entry to all exhibition venues shall be strictly governed by the Covid-19 protocols issued by the Government of Kerala from time to time. Only a limited number of people would be allowed entry in a day. Masks are mandatory when visiting all exhibition sites. Kochi Biennale Foundation is working in cooperation with the local administration to ensure that the exhibition sites are safe spaces for visitors and there is no overcrowding.
The cultural programmes planned earlier as part of the opening of the event have been cancelled.
The core idea of this exhibition, the world is one family, is drawn from the verses of the Malayalam poem ‘Ente Gurunathan’ written by Vallathol Narayana Menon, which appeals to the universal spirit of humanity and oneness which resonates well in these times of the pandemic.
The exhibition invokes the power of art to revive and resurrect the dejected human spirit is an outcome of the special interest of the government of Kerala to reach out to the artistic community in these trying times.
"The Lokame Tharavadu show a global survey of Malayali artists would add a signature of art and culture to the multi-dimensional Alappuzha Heritage Project, which is trying to revive the lost glory of Alappuzha by focusing heritage conservation and infrastructure development," said Nowshad P M, Director, Muziris Projects Pvt Ltd.
Conservation architect Benny Kuriakose said the government of Kerala is sending out a message that the old buildings are not a liability and they are something to be conserved for the future. "Using these spaces for art exhibitions while the museums are being set up is a great step forward and would give a tremendous boost to the local economy and the tourism sector," he said.
Bose Krishnamachari is the curator of the exhibition.
He said the exhibition is an attempt to create a platform for Malayali artists to showcase their recent practices. “This will help us to assess these diverse practices art historically that has also not been attempted at this level. It will also activate the cultural spaces and institutions of Kerala. Significantly it raises important questions about migration, home and belonging. Through this, we are also reconfiguring the idea of home, instead of anchoring it to one place,” he said.
Apart from the two government departments and the Muziris Heritage Project, the event has partnered with several institutions in the public and private sphere. They include the Kerala State Coir Corporation (KSCC), New Model Society, Alappuzha, Karan Group of Companies, and Indian Institute of Architects (IIA).
have a soft opening at 6pm on Sunday, April 18, adhering to strict Covid-19 protocols. The entry to the inaugural event to be held at New Model Society Building is strictly by invitation and is not open to the public, considering the pandemic situation.
