Noted artist Vivan Sundaram and his spouse art critic Geeta Kapur have donated Rs 40 lakh for the Kochi Muziris Biennale, whose second edition is slated to begin on December 12.
The art couple, who stood rock-solid behind India’s first biennale right from its inception, asked the biennale trustees to adjust the amount against a loan of Rs 76 lakh they had given for the maiden Kochi Muziris Biennale in 2012.
Online drive The donation comes at a time when the Kochi Biennale Foundation has launched an online fund-raising drive for the forthcoming edition of India’s biggest contemporary art event. “Against all odds, at the brink of things, at the eleventh hour when bridges could not be constructed, when promises were not kept, you keep faith that the hundred rupee note will blossom into thousands of green dollar bills. That, you will sail through the storm and pull off the second KMB,” wrote Mr. Sundaram, announcing the couple’s support to the biennale.
“Geeta and Vivan have stood with us through our most trying times and their support is instrumental for the biennale,” said Biennale director of programmes Riyas Komu.
Second edition The forthcoming edition, curated by artist Jitish Kallat, will feature works of 94 artists from 30 countries.