“Mr. Krishnamachari’s resignation was connected with the complaint and the KBF’s Internal Committee is taking action on the complaint,” stated V. Venu, confirming the resignation of Bose Krishnamachari from the Kochi Biennale Foundation. This development comes in the wake of a sexual harassment complaint filed by a woman who had previously worked under him.
The complaint was lodged on January 3, 2026, and pertains to an alleged incident that took place on December 28, 2025. According to V. Venu, the complaint was received by the Internal Complaints Committee under the Sexual Harassment of Women at Workplace (Prevention, Prohibition and Redressal) Act, 2013.
In response to the allegations, Bose Krishnamachari has refuted the charges, claiming that “the allegations were misleading and unsubstantiated and taken out of context.” He has also initiated legal action regarding the matter.
The unnamed complainant expressed her distress, stating, “She felt trapped and violated and had at no point given her consent to physical contact or remarks or advances.” This highlights the serious nature of the allegations and the impact they have had on the complainant.
Despite the gravity of the situation, it is noteworthy that there was no police complaint related to the incident at the time of Krishnamachari’s resignation. He cited family reasons for stepping down from his position, which has raised questions about the circumstances surrounding his departure.
Bose Krishnamachari, a co-founder of the Kochi Muziris Biennale, has played a significant role in the cultural landscape of India, having served as co-curator of the first edition of the biennale in 2012. Following his resignation, he was appointed as the Cultural Curator of Kochi.
The sixth edition of the Biennale had opened on December 12, 2025, and is set to conclude on January 31, 2026. As the situation unfolds, the Kochi Biennale Foundation’s Internal Committee is expected to continue its investigation into the complaint.
Details remain unconfirmed regarding the next steps in this case, but the implications of this incident are likely to resonate throughout the art community and beyond.
