Presented by the Ministry of Culture, Government of India, in partnership with the Nita Mukesh Ambani Cultural Centre (NMACC) and Serendipity Arts

The group show features new large-scale sculpture and installations by Alwar Balasubramaniam (Bala), Ranjani Shettar, Sumakshi Singh, Skarma Sonam Tashi, and Asim Waqif, curated by Dr. Amin Jaffer

The exhibition marks India’s return to the Biennale Arte since 2019

Venice (Isolotto, Arsenale), 9 May – 22 November 2026 | Previews: 6, 7, 8 May 2026

The Pavilion of India was opened to the public today at the 61st International Art Exhibition of La Biennale di Venezia in the presence of Gajendra Singh Shekhawat, Union Minister of Culture and Tourism; Pietrangelo Buttafuoco, President of La Biennale di Venezia; Nita M. Ambani; Isha Ambani; Sunil Kant Munjal; Vivek Aggarwal, Secretary, Ministry of Culture; and H.E. Vani Rao, Ambassador of India to Italy.

The opening featured remarks by Dr. Amin Jaffer, H.E. Vani Rao, Vivek Aggarwal, and Gajendra Singh Shekhawat.

Gajendra Singh Shekhawat, Union Minister of Culture and Tourism, said:

“Geographies of Distance: remembering home presents a contemporary India that is both rooted and forward looking. As our nation continues to evolve, this Pavilion reflects the strength of our cultural memory and the power of artistic expression to connect India with the world.”

Vivek Aggarwal, Secretary, Ministry of Culture, said:

“This exhibition brings together artists whose practices engage deeply with questions of memory, material and transformation. Their work reflects the realities of a rising India while contributing to a broader global dialogue on belonging and identity.”

Dr. Amin Jaffer, Curator, said:

“In response to In Minor Keys, this exhibition explores home as an emotional and material condition rather than a fixed place. Through fragile, organic materials and deeply personal narratives, the artists reflect on how memory, migration, and change shape our understanding of belonging.”

The Pavilion of India presents Geographies of Distance: remembering home, curated by Dr. Amin Jaffer and presented by the Ministry of Culture in partnership with NMACC and Serendipity Arts. Featuring works by Alwar Balasubramaniam (Bala), Ranjani Shettar, Sumakshi Singh, Skarma Sonam Tashi and Asim Waqif, the exhibition explores ideas of memory, migration, materiality and belonging through contemporary artistic practices rooted in Indian cultural traditions.

Exhibition Highlights

Not Just for Us – Alwar Balasubramaniam (Bala)

Sculptural panels made from clay and soil from rural Tamil Nadu explore memory, environmental change, and the passage of time.

Under the same sky – Ranjani Shettar

Suspended sculptural forms inspired by flowers and natural growth create an immersive environment reflecting nature, craft, and emotional belonging.

Permanent Address – Sumakshi Singh

A life-sized reconstruction of the artist’s demolished family home in New Delhi, created using embroidered thread, reflects on memory, domestic space, and absence.

Echoes of Home – Skarma Sonam Tashi

Using papier-mâché and references to Ladakhi architecture, the installation examines ecology, sustainability, and cultural continuity.

Chaal – Asim Waqif

A large-scale bamboo installation inspired by urban scaffolding reflects ideas of transition, renewal, and change in contemporary Indian cities.

Performance Programme

A performance programme curated by Serendipity Arts will accompany the exhibition across Venice from May to November 2026, featuring interdisciplinary presentations inspired by Indian cultural traditions and the Biennale theme In Minor Keys.