27/06/2018
PUNE BIENNALE- 2019
Khoj International Artists' Association has been appointed as the curator of the 4th edition of the Pune Biennale, scheduled for November/ December 2019. Organised and commissioned by the Pune Biennale Foundation, the biennale "represents an inclusive movement that makes art more public and accessible, and creates a new space for appreciation and education about artistic traditions". The earlier three editions in 2013, 205, and 2017 have been successful in exploring Pune's history and heritage, ecology, geography and habitation. For the 4th edition Khoj hopes to bring a fresh perspective that will engage the diverse architectural, social, economic and cultural histories and futures of the city in alignment with the Foundations’ ambitious goals.
Khoj International Artists’ Association is an internationally renowned not-for-profit contemporary arts organisation based in New Delhi, which provides physical, curatorial, intellectual and financial support for artists and creative practitioners and is unparalleled as an arts incubation centre in the region. Khoj was founded in 1997, as an antidote to the lack of arts infrastructure and space for artists - whom it continues to support even today. Through a variety of programmes including exhibitions, workshops, residencies, talks, and community art projects, Khoj has built an international reputation as an outstanding alternative arts incubation space.
Since 1997, Khoj has developed itself as a unique ‘art lab’, and has supported the experimentation of many leading Indian and International artists. It plays a central role in the advance of experimental, interdisciplinary, and critical contemporary art practice in India, constantly challenging the established thinking about art, while facilitating change and awareness of vital global issues and concerns through active and engaged audience participation. The Khoj board currently comprises of Pooja Sood (Director) along with Amar Kanwar, Subodh Gupta, Bharti Kher, Manisha Parekh, Czaee Shah, Savita Apte and Urvashi Butalia.
The Pune Biennale Foundation is an organization established to bring together art, architecture and design for enhancing visual aesthetics in Pune and for creating a platform for artists to critically engage with public art and public spaces. It has been actively contributing in creating better public spaces in the city through its project such as the Pune Speaking Walls that involves creating artworks on public facades, Chaan-daar – an upliftment project in an informal settlement of 2000 families, and so on. With the appointment of Khoj, the Pune Biennale hopes to create an experimental platform to expand and re-imagine the relationship between people, public space and art, with Pune acting both as a site and a conduit.
