US Consul General Phillip Min at the KMB '14 work of Swiss artist Marie Velardi titled "Future Perfect, 21st Century"Kochi: Praising the Kochi Muziris Biennale (KMB) as an event that has all the makings of “a leading exhibition in the world”, US Consul General Phillip A Min has said he would like to see if his country could in some way support the future editions. The Chennai-based diplomat said that the US deputy chief of mission in Delhi had recommended that he visit KMB ’14.
“People were talking so much of the success of the exhibition,” said Min, who is the US diplomatic mission’s head for south India. “The theme and curatorship are exceptional, and the setting is lovely. What inspires me is that I will be in office here in 2016 and would like to explore opportunities to see if we can contribute to the next edition.”
Min was accompanied by his wife Eun Young Lee, the Consulate’s public affairs officer Ariel Pollock and cultural affairs specialist Bijukumar K S.
KMB ’14 has received support from a few western embassies and art councils from around the world. Catherine Carlton, mayor of California’s Menlo Park, who visited the exhibition a month ago, also offered fund-raising and other support for the 2016 biennale.
Min spoke in terms of having American artists at the next edition and for the US government’s participation.
“The KMB has helped put Kerala and India on the map as a centre of world class art,” said Min, who himself majored in art history. “The art here has elements of science, trade and all sorts of discourse. It is a forum that promotes international understanding, cooperation, creativity and innovation.”
Min, who said he feels an “incredible tie to south India”, said that Consulate officials based in Chennai and Bangalore were talking about the biennale as an exhibition for everyone to visit. He and the other visiting officials said that they hoped to come back for an extended tour around the weekend.
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