Bose Krishnamachari Photo Credit: THULASI KAKKAT
Artist-curator Bose Krishnamachari has resigned from the Kochi Biennale Foundation (KBF) following a sexual harassment complaint. V. Venu, chairman of the KBF, confirmed that the foundation had received a complaint against Mr. Krishnamachari from a woman who worked under him.
“Mr Krishnamachari’s resignation was linked to a complaint and the KBF Internal Committee constituted under the Sexual Harassment of Women at Workplace (Prevention, Prohibition and Redressal) Act, 2013 is taking action on the complaint,” Mr Venu told The Hindu on Wednesday (March 25, 2026). However, Mr. Venu said that there was no police complaint so far in connection with the incident.
Mr. Krishnamachari was not available for comment on the allegations, though he has reportedly denied the allegations and initiated legal action.
Mr. Krishnamachari, who was co-founder of the Kochi Muziris Biennale and president of KBF and a member of KBF’s board of trustees, resigned from his posts in January citing “urgent family reasons”. His decision to resign from the organization in the middle of the biennial’s ongoing year sent shockwaves through art circles and sparked speculation.
Mr. Krishnamachari was recently appointed as the Cultural Curator of Kochi City under a project initiated by the Kochi Municipal Corporation.
Mr. Krishnamachari co-curated the first edition of the biennale along with artist Riyas Komu in 2012. In 2018, Mr. Komu had to resign from all management positions associated with the biennale following allegations of sexual abuse.
Published – 25 March 2026 14:20 IST
