Following the worst floods in a century in Kerala, the Kochi Biennale Foundation is auctioning select works from 40 different artists from around the world to raise money for the Chief Minister’s Relief Fund. The event to be held at January 18 in Kochi would be a part of the 4th edition of the Kochi Muziris Biennale, according to reports.
The auction titled Art Rises for Kerala (ARK) will have paintings, sculptures and installations from 40 artists from India and abroad for auction. The auction is expected to have contemporary works by notable artists such as Anish Kapoor, Subodh Gupta and Dayanita Singh, according to a report in Manorama. Founder and president of Kochi Muziris Biennale, Bose Krishnamachari, confirmed that the proceeds of the auction would go to the Chief Minister’s Distress Relief Fund.
Bose also added that art had a significant power when it comes to disaster recovery and goes a long way in relaying the foundations for a state in its troubled times.
The Chief Minister’s Distress Relief Fund will help collect funds to rebuild Kerala following the floods that ravaged the state in August and claimed close to 493 lives. Lakhs were displaced and thousands left homeless after the rains and flood waters wreaked havoc across the state.
The fourth season of the Kochi Muziris Biennale, one of the biggest art biennales in the country, is all set to begin on December 12 and conclude on April 29, 2019.