Anja Ibsch at Kochi-Muziris Biennale: An art practice that refuses to stand still

“I am not against anything,” says Berlin-based artist Anja Ibsch, pausing between yet another reconfiguration of her installation at the Kochi-Muziris Biennale.

About the Artist
- Anja Ibsch is a Berlin-based artist known for her performance art and site-specific interventions.
- Her practice emphasizes movement, impermanence, and transformation, often blurring the boundaries between body, space, and audience.

Biennale Context
- The Kochi-Muziris Biennale is India’s largest contemporary art festival, held in Fort Kochi, Kerala.
- It brings together artists from around the world to explore themes of identity, politics, ecology, and cultural exchange.
- Ibsch’s work fits into the Biennale’s ethos of fluidity and experimentation, challenging static notions of art.

Her Practice – “Refusing to Stand Still”
- Ibsch’s performances are process-driven, resisting fixed forms or finality.
- She often uses bodily gestures, ephemeral materials, and improvisation to create works that evolve in real time.
- The phrase “refuses to stand still” reflects her commitment to constant motion and change, both physically and conceptually.

Significance at Kochi
- Her presence highlights the Biennale’s global inclusivity, showcasing voices beyond traditional Indian art circles.
- By situating her practice in Kochi, Ibsch engages with the Biennale’s historic, multicultural backdrop, adding layers of meaning to her explorations of movement and impermanence.

This makes her contribution not just an artwork but a living dialogue—between artist, audience, and environment.