Decoding The Kochi-Muziris Biennale 2016-17: Where To Stay & What To See

One of the Biennale’s most powerful installations, Raul Zurita’s The Sea Of Pain offers a brief but thoughtful insight into the struggles faced by refugees while crossing dangerous waters to safety. The installation is in a warehouse that Zurita has opened up to allow seawater to flow through, inviting people to wade through the knee-high water.

At the very end is a poem penned by Zurita, dedicated to five-year old Galip Kurdi who drowned along with his family while fleeing war-torn Syria, making for a haunting but beautifully orchestrated and highly immersive installation. You’re definitely not going to want to miss this.

Located in Fort Kochi, this 17th century Dutch house promises spacious and beautiful bedrooms and fantastic views. Just a few steps away from Kochi Beach, staying here means you’ll have the perfect opportunity to check out the Chinese fishing nets, the historic Church of St. Francis, the Indo-Portugese Museum and Aspinwall House, the main venue of the Biennale.

Price: INR 5,503

Type Of Stay: One bedroom

Can Accommodate: Two guests

Find out more here.

Renowned Slovenian poet Ales Steger has constructing this imposing pyramid structure, inspired by the Great Pyramid of Giza, to house and highlight the works of poets who have been exiled from republics and nations due to the controversial nature of their work.

Walking through absolute darkness, your ears are your only guide, as detached voices recite the works of Ovid, Bertolt Brecht, and Czeslaw Milosz to name a few. The piece addresses the existentialism a poet faces when forced out of their home country.

This homestay is centrally located, and is a beautifully renovated heritage home. Over 350 years old, you can find classic elements of Kerala architecture. The rooms are also quite spacious, and come with a private sitting area. If you’re looking to indulge in some local culture, try out Spencer’s Home’s in-house tabala and and raga singing lessons.

Price: INR 2,509

Type Of Stay: One bedroom

Can Accommodate: Two guests

Find out more here.

This surrealist video installation combines 3D illustration with an old Taiwanese folk song, making for an eclectic and hypnotising four minute-long work of art. Known for his oil paintings and digital photography, Wu Tien-Chan’s installation is meant to unearth the gaudy and counterfeit, and his display perfectly sets the stage – expect an over-lit screen surrounded by a string of colourful lights.

If you’re looking to introduce your child to the art world, this is the perfect entry point.

While this AirBnB might be a little pricey, remember that you’re shelling out for the luxury of staying at a classic colonial structure that’s over 100 years old. Decorated with bright colours, you can expect walls in every shade. They even have a private pool, a well-maintained garden space and a restaurant exclusive to in-house guests — who doesn’t love delicious local food and all the privacy in the world?

And its located just steps away from all the main attractions in Fort Kochi, as well as most of the Biennale venues like Aspinwall House, David Hall and more.

Price: INR 12,024

Type Of Stay: One bedroom

Can Accommodate: Three guests

Find out more here.

The Russian Collective AES+F is all set to turn the world upside down {that’s what the title means} with this acclaimed video installation. The piece questions authority by depicting a dystopian universe where the unusual is the norm: students punishing teachers, the poor giving to the rich.

Albeit a bit disturbing at times, Inverso Mundo highlights the realities of life. It doesn’t help that upon exiting, you’re greeting by the serene backwaters of Kochi, making the piece that much more jarring.

Located a short distance from the Synagogue, right by where all the spice traders have set up shop, this charming hotel is filled with vibrantly coloured walls, vintage decor {including an old grand piano that is very much off-key} and a beautiful view of the Kochi backwaters.

The rooms are spacious, and true to its name, the whole place is very much inspired by a museum. If you’re eager to check out some great shopping spots and several of Biennale’s venues in Mattancherry and Fort Kochi, Museum Room is a great place to stay.

Price: INR 12,001

Type Of Stay: One bedroom

Can Accommodate: Two guests

Find out more here.

C Bhagyanath’s artwork is a multilayer blend of different periods of time—as the show progresses, the artist adds a new transparent sheet with a charcoal drawing, depicting how movement and stillness are the same.

Quaint and beautiful, this truly is a delightful suite. With beautiful garden views, manicured lawns and plenty of flowers, this charming Airbnb offers traditional Kerala-style roofs, a teak panelled sitting room and a friendly family who run the place.

It faces Parade Grounds, a venue of the Biennale, so it’s the perfect spot of serenity that you can escape to after a day spent walking around Fort Kochi.

Price: INR 2,989

Type Of Stay: One bedroom

Can Accommodate: Two guests

Find out more here.

Orijit Sen, a celebrated Indian graphics artist, brings a heavy dose of fun and nostalgia to the Biennale with his playful jigsaw puzzle piece. By looking at the way history and location work, Sen challenges the notions of identity, and looks at how these concepts change when one {literal, in this case} piece of the puzzle is moved.

It is an interactive piece, inspired by three places in which life and history meet: Mapusa market in Goa, the Grand Trunk (GT) Road in Punjab and Hyderabad’s Old City.

A beautiful garden with lush, green lawns, a sitting deck, spacious bedrooms and plenty of natural light — what’s not to love about this? We’re also loving their luxurious bathtubs, perfect for an end-of-the-day soak to unwind and relax!

Located just walking distance from Aspinwall House, you’ll also be surrounded by some of Fort Kochi’s main attractions like the Chinese fishing nets and the Indo-Portugese Museum, to name a few.

Price: INR 4,767

Type Of Stay: One bedroom

Can Accommodate: Two guests

Find out more here.

Find out more about the Kochi-Muziris Biennale here.