Dinesh PG has quite evocatively reproduced portraits on paper, using charcoal powder, of the victims of ‘acid’ attack and very well emphasised the saying ‘eyes are the windows to the soul.’

Venue: Lalitha Kala Academy Hall, Thrissur, Kerala
Dates: Ends on 24th October, 2016
Artist: Dinesh PG, 094472 38833.

Some photos from the exhibition:

I’ve never taken this route to Manjoor before. Miles and miles of tea estates, clumps of sholas, grasslands, potato fields dote the landscape.

It was one of the most beautiful drives I have had in the recent times. We reach Manjoor and this place has not changed at all. The same idyllic settings, many small houses built for the Electricity Board workers, a few shops, and fewer vehicles.

The Snowdon factory is about 1.5 km after Manjoor and location was just perfect in the midst of rolling tea estates. We parked the jeep about 200 metres away and took a walk to the factory.

As we entered the gates, we could see piles of firewood and a couple of lorries still laden with recently plucked tea leaves. We found the manager’s office and wow that was one of the best office settings that I have seen. If you are stressed one peep out the window will set you right. It was like an eagle’s nest and the view priceless.

We spoke to Mr. Kannappan, who is the owner of the Snowdon Tea Factory, about organising a packaged tour that would include a visit to the tea factory and Shivkumar will coordinate with this. He was game and agreed to the packaged tour. Later we went around the factory and as the leaves were coming in and drying, the machines were idle. But Shivkumar explained the tea manufacturing process to me…
1. Withering. Once the plucked leaves come to the factory they are spread out in breezy large rooms.

2. Rolling. Then the leaves are rolled in rollers.

3. Oxidization. The rolled leaves are left in climate controlled rooms to oxidize and this gives the dark colour, aroma, and flavor to the final tea dust/leaf.

4. Drying. The oxidization process in stopped using the drying process. The leaves are slightly heated. These leaves are sealed and sent to the auction houses.

It was wonderful trip. We returned back to Ithalar by 11 am.

After a cup of tea, I thanked Shivkumar for his time and said goodbye. I got the bus at 11:15 am and got back to Ooty by 12 noon. Then I packed my bags to get back home. I had arranged with PR Ramesh to get me a ticket on the Ooty train at 2 pm.

After lunch I walked down to the Aspinwall House, the main venue. I got the tickets (Rs.100/-) and in the reception I met Mr Bose Krishnamachari, one of the directors of the Biennale. I introduced myself. I had met him during the 2012 edition with Mr Riyas Komu who is the other director and a friend. I came to know Riyas had gone to Bombay and will be back in a couple of days. Mr Bose gave me an intro to the Biennale and gave me a book with the details of the exhibits. I went about seeing the exhibits in the Aspinwall House venue.

About the Biennale:
The Kochi-Muziris Biennale is an ongoing international exhibition of contemporary art in Kochi, Kerala. The first edition of Kochi-Muziris Biennale was conceived and curated by Bose Krishnamachari and Riyas Komu, who are the president and secretary of the Kochi-Muziris Foundation. The last edition was in 2012-13 and had 4,00,000 visitors in 90 days. The popularity and cultural success of the India’s First Biennale gave the Foundation the necessary boost to conduct the second edition in 2014-15. The Biennale is curated by Jitish Kallat and the topic is Whirled Views and Whorled Exploration. The exhibition is set in spaces across Kochi and surrounding islands. The shows are held in existing galleries and halls, and site-specific installations in public spaces, heritage buildings and disused structures.

The Kochi-Muziris Biennale tries to showcase the historic cosmopolitan legacy of the modern metropolis of Kochi, and the mythical ancient port of Muziris, along with daily talks, seminars, movie screenings, music, educational activities for students, and workshops.

The Biennale has 94 artists from 30 countries displaying their art works that commenced on Dec 12, 2014. The eight exhibition venues are spread out in Kochi and Ernakulam and they are Aspinwall House, Cabral Yard, Pepper House, Vasco Da Gama Square, David Hall, Kashi Art Gallery, CSI Bunglow, and the Durbar Hall. I was able to visit all the locations except the Durbar Hall.

The Biennale ends on March 29, 2015. For more information please visit http://kochimuzirisbiennale.org/

Some of the exhibits: