Artist group wants govt body to monitor KMB

Kochi: As the main venues of the latest edition of the Kochi-Muziris Biennale (KMB) is set to open to the public in a few days, a group of artists, who approached chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan alleging financial irregularities at the Kochi-Muziris Biennale Foundation, has now demanded that a government-level body be set up to monitor the activities of the event.A group of artists led by Prof Ajayakumar, former dean of Visual Arts, World University of Design, New Delhi, approached the CM complaining of irregularities of funds allocated by the government to KMB for organizing ‘Lokame Tharavadu’ event in Alappuzha. Former officials of Kerala Lalithakala Akademi B D Dethan, K A Francis, T A Sathyapal and Ajithkumar K G too signed the memorandum submitted to the CM. Ajaykumar said that since the government is allocating Rs 7 crore for an art show, it should be accounted for and the government should have control over it. “It is necessary to form a government-level body to monitor the financial matters and other activities of Kochi-Muziris Biennale,” he said.Ajayakumar alleged that KMB’s claim of technical issues, related to international charges for transporting materials to India for the exhibitions, as reason for the event’s delay this year is baseless. “Most foreign artists are participating with video art and new media arts which do not need transportation costs. Hence the question of international charges and delays do not arise,” he said.“Besides Rs 7 crore from the state government, KMB also receives crores of rupees from corporates. So the functioning of the foundation should be transparent,” he said.Renowned artist Ajith Kumar G said that the government is the main fund source of KMB and hence it cannot function like an independent private entity.Meanwhile, Bose Krishnamachari, KMB president, denied the allegations saying they are aimed at tarnishing the event’s image.