Union Minister of Culture and Tourism Shri Gajendra Singh Shekhawat highlighted that India’s return to Venice represents a proud moment of cultural confidence. The pavilion will present a contemporary India deeply rooted in its civilizational memory while actively engaging with global artistic dialogues.
Curatorial Vision and Artistic Voices
Curated by Dr. Amin Jaffer, the exhibition features five leading Indian artists – Alwar Balasubramaniam (Bala), Sumakshi Singh, Ranjani Shettar, Asim Waqif, and Skarma Sonam Tashi. Their works, spanning organic and traditional materials, explore the concept of home as both a physical and emotional space shaped by memory, displacement, and transformation.
Dr. Amin Jaffer explained that the pavilion engages with Venice’s cityscape subtly, integrating ephemeral interventions of music, movement, and art into everyday life. This approach mirrors the pavilion’s central theme of home as a fluid, portable condition, resonating with India’s mobile population and global diaspora.
Artist Highlights
- Alwar Balasubramaniam (Bala): Works with soil and clay from rural Tamil Nadu, creating art in dialogue with the surrounding landscape.
- Sumakshi Singh: New Delhi-based artist crafting installations from embroidered thread, turning memory into architectural forms.
- Ranjani Shettar: Karnataka-based sculptor transforming natural materials into organic forms, exploring India’s craft traditions.
- Asim Waqif: Architect-turned-artist, repurposing organic and discarded materials, emphasizing sustainability and public engagement.
- Skarma Sonam Tashi: Ladakh-based artist using paper mâché and recycled materials to highlight ecological and cultural preservation.
Collaborative Partnerships
The pavilion is presented in collaboration with the Nita Mukesh Ambani Cultural Centre and Serendipity Arts Foundation. Smt. Isha Ambani emphasized the pavilion’s role in fostering global dialogue while celebrating India’s rich artistic traditions. Shri Sunil Kant Munjal of Serendipity Arts highlighted the inclusion of performance, music, poetry, and interactive experiences alongside visual art.
The exhibition situates India’s creative talent in a global context, emphasizing interdisciplinary practices and the evolving realities of contemporary India.
Significance and Global Impact
India’s pavilion returns to Venice for the first time since 2019, reinforcing the nation’s global artistic presence. The exhibition underscores India’s creative diversity and affirms its cultural voice, highlighting how art navigates memory, transformation, and belonging in a rapidly changing world.
