KADER ATTIA APPOINTED CURATOR OF 7TH KOCHI-MUZIRIS BIENNALE

The Kochi Biennale Foundation has named acclaimed artist and curator Kader Attia as curator of the 7th Kochi-Muziris Biennale. Selected by a distinguished committee chaired by Jitish Kallat, Attia will begin curatorial research for the 2027–2028 edition, bringing his globally recognised practice on history, memory, repair, and colonial legacies to Kochi.  

The Kochi Biennale Foundation has announced that Kader Attia, the internationally acclaimed artist, curator, and professor at HfbK-Hamburg, will curate the 7th edition of the Kochi-Muziris Biennale. Attia’s appointment signals a new chapter for India’s most significant contemporary art festival, which has consistently positioned Kochi as a global hub for artistic dialogue and cultural exchange.  

Attia was selected by a distinguished committee chaired by artist Jitish Kallat, with members Shilpa Gupta, Amrita Jhaveri, Pooja Sood, Tasneem Zakaria Mehta, Mariam Ram, and Rirkrit Tiravanija. Their choice reflects a collective recognition of Attia’s unique ability to weave together artistic, anthropological, and philosophical inquiry into a practice that resonates across continents.  

Born in Dugny, France, in 1970, Attia has long been recognised for his profound engagement with questions of history, memory, repair, and the enduring legacies of colonialism. His work spans installation, sculpture, film, and archival research, and is distinguished by its ability to confront difficult truths while opening pathways for reflection and healing. Attia’s practice has consistently challenged audiences to reconsider the narratives of cultural identity, displacement, and historical continuity, making him one of the most compelling voices in contemporary art today.  

The Kochi-Muziris Biennale, founded in 2010, has grown into South Asia’s largest contemporary art festival, celebrated for its ability to bring together artists, curators, and thinkers from across the globe. Each edition has been shaped by the vision of its curator, who sets the thematic and conceptual framework for the Biennale. Attia’s appointment continues this tradition of entrusting the Biennale’s direction to individuals whose work embodies both intellectual rigour and artistic innovation.  

As curator of the seventh edition, Attia will begin curatorial research towards developing the framework for the 2027–2028 programme. Kochi will serve as a vital point of departure, anchoring his exploration within a wider field of artistic, historical, and contemporary inquiry. The Biennale has always drawn strength from its location, with Kochi’s layered histories of trade, migration, and cultural exchange offering fertile ground for artistic reflection. Attia’s practice, deeply attuned to questions of repair and memory, is expected to resonate strongly with this context.  

The announcement has generated excitement within the art world, not only because of Attia’s stature but also because of the possibilities his vision opens for the Biennale. His work often engages with archives, museums, and cultural institutions, interrogating how histories are constructed and remembered. In Kochi, a city marked by centuries of global interaction, such an approach promises to create a Biennale that is both locally rooted and globally relevant.  

Attia’s appointment also underscores the Biennale’s commitment to fostering dialogue around pressing contemporary issues. His exploration of colonial legacies and cultural repair speaks directly to ongoing conversations about identity, restitution, and historical justice. In an era where art is increasingly called upon to engage with social and political realities, Attia’s curatorship is likely to position the Biennale as a space for critical reflection and transformative exchange.  

The Kochi Biennale Foundation expressed its delight at welcoming Attia, noting that his appointment marks the beginning of an exciting journey towards the 2027–2028 edition. The Biennale has always been more than an exhibition; it is a platform for experimentation, collaboration, and the reimagining of cultural narratives. With Attia at the helm, the seventh edition is expected to continue this legacy while charting new directions.  

For Attia, the Biennale offers an opportunity to extend his ongoing inquiry into the intersections of art, history, and society. His curatorial research will likely draw upon his extensive experience working across disciplines and geographies, creating a framework that invites artists and audiences alike to engage with questions of repair, memory, and the possibility of new futures.  

As anticipation builds, the art community awaits further updates on Attia’s vision for the Biennale. The journey towards Kochi-Muziris Biennale 2027–28 has begun, promising a dialogue between past and present, repair and renewal, and art’s enduring power to reframe collective memory.  

The appointment of Kader Attia is not only a milestone for the Biennale but also a testament to its role as a global stage for contemporary art. By entrusting its next edition to an artist whose practice embodies both critical depth and creative innovation, the Kochi Biennale Foundation reaffirms its commitment to fostering meaningful artistic exchange and shaping the future of cultural discourse.  

Stay tuned as Kochi prepares to host the world once again, with Attia’s curatorial vision set to guide the Biennale into its next transformative chapter.