The biennale is investing in children, teaching them the fine ways of art, even as it showcases the work of the late child prodigy, Edmund Thomas Clint, who died over 30 years ago.
About 60 select works of Clint, who had made nearly 25,000 drawings and paintings at the time of his death aged a month short of seven years, were thrown open to visitors at the newly-opened Cosmopolitan Cult in Jew Town Mattancherry by Clint’s father, Joseph M.T.
The Clint Exhibition marked the start of the Children’s Biennale, which will run parallel to Kochi-Muziris Biennale 2014 till March 29 next year.
As part of the Children’s Biennale, eminent Indian artists such as Valsan Koorma Kolleri, Balan Nambiar and K. Reghunathan and British artist Corrina Dean will provide training to young children.
Guided toursA special feature of the Biennale will be guided tours for varied age groups with a view to helping them comprehend contemporary art and arrive at their own meanings of the art on display.
KMB director of programmes Riyas Komu said this was an important section as it involved children in the world of contemporary art. “Clint’s works are a significant tool to understand that space,” he said.
Besides, there will be a ‘Tots Programme’ for children in the age-group of three to five years.
“We encourage children with different needs to visit the Biennale,” Mr. Komu said. “We are working with professionals to develop touch tools and sign-language tools, especially for the visually and hearing challenged.”
KMB programme coordinator Sananda Mukhopadhyay said several schools from different parts of the country wanted to bring their students for the Biennale. “With this in mind, we are formulating specially-packaged educational tours.”
