The upcoming edition of the Kochi-Muziris Biennale (KMB), titled for the time being, is a dynamic, pulsating, and shape-shifting process that celebrates the collectiveness of participating artists, said artist Nikhil Chopra. He was virtually addressing an audience in London, at the second iteration of ‘New Dialogues: Contemporary Art from South Asia', the Durjoy Bangladesh Foundation (DBF)-KMB Lecture Series, held at Hayward Gallery on October 17.

Nikhil Chopra curates the sixth edition of KMB with HH Art Spaces, a Goa-based organisation, which he co-founded in 2014. The Biennale, running from 12 December 2025 to 31 March 2026, is South Asia’s largest contemporary art festival. Nikhil emphasized ephemerality, describing the exhibition as a “memory, a lingering perfume” rather than a permanent display. He highlighted renovated venues across Mattancherry, Fort Kochi, and Willingdon Island.

The lecture Series on cultural, artistic, and curatorial practices across South Asia and the diaspora, presented by Hayward Gallery in collaboration with DBF and KMB, was held in Purcell Room, Queen Elizabeth Hall, London. Nikhil walked the audience through a film and video offering glimpses of the venues, from the former spice warehouses and other spaces in Mattancherry, Fort Kochi, and Willingdon Island, which are being actively renovated and repurposed as Biennale venues.

In his opening remarks, Dr Shwetal Patel, who leads Kochi Biennale Foundation (KBF)’s International Partnership and Programmes, thanked Bangladeshi art philanthropist Durjoy Rahman and British curator Ralph Rugoff for championing pluralistic values and for bringing all together.

Other speakers included Abdul Halik Azeez, Hit Man Gurung, Raisa Kabir, Jitish Kallat, Zahra Malkani, Pallavi Paul, and Sheelasha Rajbhandari. The panel discussions were moderated by Mario D’Souza and Dr Patel. Author Kamila Shamsie delivered the keynote address.

The DBF-KMB Award is a multi-year exhibition and public programme that brings together the Hayward Gallery, the DBF, and the Kochi Biennale Foundation. Artist Amol K Patil was the first recipient of the Award for his installation ‘The Politics of Skin and Movement’, which explores the relationship between the body and the urban environment.