Lokame Tharavadu (The World Is One Family) couldn’t have come at a better time. With the support of the Kerala Government, the Kochi Biennale Foundation has opened its doors to one of the largest art survey exhibitions in India. The pandemic has been really hard on artists and this exhibition is rather an ode to them.
The Lokame Tharavadu show in Alappuzha and Ernakulam will showcase the work of 267 Malayali artists across five different venues. Each artist has shown their interpretation of Kerala, and what home means to them. The brainchild behind this project, Bose Krishnamachari, who is also the president of the Kochi Biennale Foundation, wanted to do something for the artists. Thus Lokamme Tharavadu, inspired by the Malayalam poem written by Vallathol Narayana Menon, was born.
Bose had to scour through the land to find unknown artists to take part in this initiative. In an interview with The Indian Express, he shared, “It appeals to the universal spirit of humanity. Given the current situation in India, where so many feel threatened by religious fundamentalism, an ideal cultural and secular space needs to be created. In smaller ways, communities need to come together and art can play a role in fostering that.
Lokame Tharavadu is open for public viewing and is free of cost. They are open on all days between 10 AM and 6 PM. However, to get access to the pass, you will have to register yourself at the Covid19 Jagratha portal of the Government of Kerala. In addition, you have to carry a negative RT-PCR test taken within 48 hours or carry proof of the two doses of the vaccine taken. Strict COVID-19 protocol should be followed.
Lokame Tharavadu is the perfect opportunity to explore different artists in Kerala, and support their work. It’s a platform that has given them the confidence to not give up. The least we can do is share our support.
