Artist Kader Attia, known for his work addressing colonial violence and a winner of France's Prix Marcel Duchamp, has been selected to curate the 2027 edition of the Kochi-Muziris Biennale, India's premier biennial. Attia, who previously curated the 2022 Berlin Biennale, was chosen by a committee led by prominent Indian artist Jitish Kallat. His appointment continues the biennial's tradition of artist-curators, following Nikhil Chopra (2024) and Anita Dube (2018).
The selection comes at a turbulent moment for the Kochi-Muziris Biennale, as cofounder Bose Krishnamachari resigned in January amid a sexual harassment complaint, which he denies. Attia's curatorial vision, emphasizing connections across Kochi's multicultural layers, signals a potential new chapter for the biennial, which has faced both acclaim and controversy in past editions. His appointment underscores the ongoing global dialogue around decolonization and representation in major art exhibitions.