KBF announces the lineup of ‘Edam’ exhibition featuring Kerala artists

The Kochi Biennale Foundation (KBF) has officially announced the lineup for ‘Edam’, a special exhibition showcasing the diverse art practices of Kerala. Here are the key highlights:

About the Exhibition
- Dates:
Opens on December 13, 2025, running parallel to the Kochi-Muziris Biennale (KMB) which starts on December 12.
- Venues:
Cube Art Spaces, Armaan Collective & Café, and Garden Convention Centre in Bazaar Road, Mattancherry.
- Curators:
Artist-curators Aishwarya Suresh and K M Madhusudhanan.
- Participants:
Features 36 artists and collectives from across Kerala and its diaspora.

Vision & Themes
- According to Bose Krishnamachari (President, KMB), “Edam will be a spectrum of ideas and thoughts as perceived by the artists of Kerala, throwing light on the depth of their roots embedded in traditions, heritage and culture of the land, inspired by other cultures across the world.”
- The exhibition was conceived in 2022 to extend the Biennale platform specifically for Kerala artists, encouraging conceptual thought and writing around contemporary art.
- It emphasizes inter-generational dialogue, resilience of local practices, and Kerala’s evolving art ecosystem.

Featured Artists
Some of the notable names include:
- Abhimanue Govindan, Abul Kalam Azad, Dr. Indu Antony, Murali Cheeroth, Priti Vadakkath, Radha Gomaty, Ramu Aravindan, Tom J Vattakuzhy, Visakh Menon, among others.

Curatorial Perspectives
- K M Madhusudhanan: Highlights new ideas, experiences, and evolving methods of Kerala’s art practice. His own work spans films, paintings, video art, and installations, with exhibitions at Venice Biennale and MoMA, New York.
- Aishwarya Suresh: A Kochi-based textile artist and educator, she focuses on weaving traditions, experimental materiality, and expanding access to art education.

This edition of Edam is positioned as a young, vibrant platform introducing emerging Kerala artists while also celebrating established voices, making it a significant parallel program to the Biennale.