3 min readNew DelhiUpdated: Mar 25, 2026 08:08 AM IST
The resignation of artist Bose Krishnamachari from the posts of president of Kochi-Muziris Biennale (KMB) and member of the Board of Trustees of Kochi Biennale Foundation (KBF) in January followed a complaint of sexual harassment against him, The Indian Express has learnt.
Krishnamachari is the co-founder of KMB and co-curator of its first edition in 2012. One of the country’s most prestigious art events, the Biennale’s sixth edition opened on December 12 last year and is on until March 31.
When contacted by this newspaper, Venu Vasudevan, chairperson of KBF, confirmed that they had received a complaint against Krishnamachari alleging sexual harassment. “A complaint was received with the Internal Complaints Committee (ICC) under the PoSH Act… This was in December,” he said.
Asked whether this was the reason Krishnamachari stepped down from his positions at the Biennale in January, Vasudevan said it was “one of the reasons”.
The KBF had announced Krishnamachari’s resignation in a press release issued on January 14, which said, “Mr Bose has cited pressing family reasons for his resignation.”
According to sources, the complainant described Krishnamachari as her supervisor at the Biennale. She accused the artist of calling her to his apartment in Kochi where he allegedly made sexually coloured remarks and physical advances towards her, the sources said.
When contacted by The Indian Express, Krishnamachari said, “These are misleading and unsubstantiated allegations taken out of context. I am aware of the sources and the pattern of circulation. I have already instructed my lawyers to initiate legal proceedings both civil and criminal, in Mumbai and expect to lodge the same in coming days.”
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Incidentally, the Kochi Municipal Corporation appointed Krishnamachari as the Art, Design and Cultural Curator of the city earlier this month. The KBF, meanwhile, had announced that artist and curator Jitish Kallat will assume the role of KMB president to steer the selection of the curator for the Biennale’s next edition. The ongoing edition of the biennale, titled “For the Time Being”, is being curated by artist Nikhil Chopra and his art collective HH Art Spaces.
Krishnamachari co-founded the Biennale along with another artist Riyas Komu. Komu resigned from all management positions connected with the event in 2018, following separate allegations of sexual misconduct.
At the time of his resignation, Krishnamachari had said, “After 15 years of being deeply committed and involved in building the Foundation and shaping the Biennale, from its inception as an artist-led initiative to what it is today, I felt this was the right moment to step back, for personal and family reasons, and to return more fully to my own artistic practice. The Foundation is in a strong place, and future editions are already gaining momentum, which gives me confidence and peace in making this decision.”
