Second Edition Of Bihar Museum To Be Held On 7th August 2023

In his role as Director General of Bihar Museum, Shri Anjani Kumar Singh (Advisor to the Chief Minister, Bihar) has announced the highly anticipated second edition of the Bihar Museum Biennale. Promising a transformative experience, this new iteration aims to surpass its predecessor, presenting a better-enriched form with the aim of connecting people, connecting cultures, and interrogating museums. With a broadened scope of programming, the grand event will commence with the prestigious G20 exhibition, catapulting the biennale onto the global stage of artistic excellence. Dr. Alka Pande, renowned art historian and curator, served as the

 Project Lead of Bihar Museum Biennale Edition 1, successfully spearheading the inaugural edition of this prestigious event has continued her visionary journey as the chief curator for its highly anticipated 2nd Edition.

The Bihar Museum is one of the visionary projects of the State Government of Bihar. The new museum is dedicated to the history of Bihar in its capital, Patna. Bihar possesses India’s most important Archaeological sites, including prehistoric settlements and remains of ancient republics and universities. Through its vast collections that span over 10000 years, the new Bihar Museum traces the rich history and artistic traditions that flourished in the region through the ages and has a gallery dedicated to the Bihar Diaspora. Bihar Museum’s art galleries have a rich collection of traditional, folk and contemporary art in Bihar. Bihar Museum is not only a cultural landmark of Bihar but an experience to perceive museums.

Bihar Museum Biennale will be coming back with the Second Edition with the inauguration on 7th August 2023 at the Bihar Museum, Patna. Organized by the Department of Arts, Culture and Youth affairs, Government of Bihar, the first ever Museum Biennale in the country and the world opened in March 2021 in a hybrid format providing a gateway to the richness and treasures of Indian museums and also bringing together a highlight of key collections from various museums across the world. The Museum Biennale aims to sensitize the public to the importance and significance of a museum culture in India and facilitate an understanding of our culture, building a strong sense of identity, nationhood and the self. Dr. Alka Pande, art historian and curator, served as the Project Lead of Bihar Museum Biennale Edition 1, successfully spearheading the inaugural edition of this prestigious event has continued her visionary journey as the chief curator for its highly anticipated 2nd Edition.

As a Curtain Raiser to the Biennale, Bihar Museum is proud to present the captivating photography exhibition titled "Brasilia 60+ and the Construction of Modern Brazil" from June 22nd to July 21st. Curated by Dr Alka Pande, this exhibition pays tribute to the notable achievements of Brasilia, the capital city of Brazil, as it celebrates 200 years of independence.

Brasilia, an idea that emerged in the early 19th century, gained immense significance over time and was eventually inscribed in Brazil's constitution. In 1956, President Juscelino Kubitschek recognized this idea and selected Lucio Costa's urban plan, the "Plano Piloto," as the winning concept for the new capital. The renowned Brazilian modernist architect, Oscar Niemeyer, skillfully captured the inherent beauty of Brasilia by integrating Costa's meticulous urban layout with distinct buildings that exude functional, rhythmic structures, intricately designed facades, and minimalist, clean, and linear designs.

Through the lens of Leonardo Finotti, the exhibition showcases the artistic documentation of Brasilia, capturing its unique character, essence, and architectural intricacies. The exhibition features a mesmerizing collection of photographs that depict symbolic palaces such as the Parliament, the President's residence, the President's office, the Ministries, and a significant number of apartment buildings. These architectural marvels paved the way for the capital's transfer from Rio de Janeiro to Brasilia in 1960, forever shaping the urban landscape of Brazil.

Kenneth Frampton, an architectural critic, once noted, "The concept of the Neighborhood Unit... probably has never been more cleverly articulated and judiciously applied than in Brasilia's 'superblocks'." This statement reflects Brasilia's transcendence from a contemporary city to a thriving modern metropolis, where a united community collaboratively constructs the urban landscape.

The Bihar Museum invites art enthusiasts, architecture aficionados, and history lovers to witness the grandeur and significance of Brasilia's construction through this unique photography exhibition. "Brasilia 60+ and the Construction of Modern Brazil" not only commemorates 200 years of Brazil's independence but also highlights the vision, skill, and creativity of the architects, urban planners, and artists who shaped Brasilia into the architectural masterpiece it is today.