A prolific artist, Vivan Sundaram remained a staunch supporter of Kochi Biennale from its start

Pioneering multidisciplinary artist Vivan Sundaram, who died on March 29, was actively associated with the Kochi Muziris Biennale

Bose Krishnamachari still recollects vividly the words of veteran artist Vivan Sundaram when he was stuck with the mounting challenges at the start of the first edition of the Kochi Muziris Biennale in 2012.

“He held me close and assured that he would take care of his installation titled Black Gold, which made up of the 2,000-earold pottery shards taken directly from the archaeological stie of Pattanam in Muziris. He was one of the earliest supporters of the Kochi Muziris Biennale and had supported us financially also. Vivan will always be remembered as a politically and socially committed artist, who had always searched for artistic solidarity through his various creative endeavours,” said Mr. Krishnamachari, president of the Kochi Biennale Foundation, as he paid tributes to the prolific artist who died in Delhi on Wednesday.

Sundaram was one of India’s pioneering multidisciplinary artists. Social activist and friend Shabnam Hashmi said that Sundaram had been ailing for the past few months with multiple issues.

“Vivan Sundaram passed away this morning at 9.20 am. Further details of the cremation as decided will be communicated to you shortly,” read a note issued by Safdar Hashmi Memorial Trust (SAHMAT), of which Sundaram was a founding trustee.

Sundaram, who was among the artists to have mooted the idea of a Delhi Biennale in 2005, was elated to join the inaugural edition of the Kochi Muziris Biennale. He wanted to engage art with history through his installation.

“When I was invited for the KMB, I was curious about Muziris. I have been interested in journeys and boats and our relationship to the sea. Pattanam, a port town that collapsed quite mysteriously and resurfaced at the end of 20th century, may be a conjecture,” he told The Hindu in an interview in August 2012.

P. J. Cherian, former director of Kerala Council for Historical Research, who led the Pattanam excavations termed his first meeting with Sundaram as an “amazing moment”.