KMB 2025: Bangladesh High Commissioner and his Deputy Visit Biennale

KOCHI:

Riaz Hamidullah, High Commissioner of Bangladesh to India, visited the Kochi-Muziris Biennale at Aspinwall House, saying the art event provides a platform that allows artists to express themselves freely and where art works are ‘raw and authentic’.

Hamidullah, who was accompanied with Deputy High Commissioner Md. Alimuzzaman, viewed various artworks on display, appreciating the creativity and talent of the participating artists.

Expressing admiration for the Biennale, Hamidullah said, “I’m in great awe of the artists unleashing their imagination, speaking in their own language, and challenging every form of expression.”

Visiting Kochi for the second time after his first visit in September 2014, the High Commissioner said the Biennale left a strong impression within moments of his arrival.

Having attended major art events across mainland Europe, New York, and South Asia, including the Asian Art Biennale in Bangladesh, he described the Kochi-Muziris Biennale as a space that feels distinctly raw and deeply authentic.

Reflecting on the artworks, he highlighted two pieces that particularly resonated with him: Chronicles (2025) by Kirtika Kain ,portraying the life cycle of a Dalit through themes of pain and struggle, and Wiping out by R B Shajith examining the interconnectedness of life, climate, and nature.

“The work here feels raw and authentic. It doesn’t care about conventions, and that is what makes these art forms truly powerful,” he noted.

He also acknowledged the role of the Biennale as a platform that allows artists to express themselves freely.

“I wonder how these works might be received elsewhere,” he said, adding that Kochi offers a rare openness that encourages artists to go beyond imagination and fully unleash themselves.