India Pavilion at 61st Venice Biennale Explores Home as Fleeting Embrace
From May 9 to November 22, 2026, the India Pavilion at the 61st Venice Biennale showcases "Geographies of Distance: remembering home," curated by Amin Jaffer at the Arsenale di Venezia. The exhibition includes five artists: Sumakshi Singh's "Permanent Address" reconstructs her grandparents' residence in New Delhi; Asim Waqif's "Chaal" reflects the urban environment of India; Alwar Balasubramaniam's "Not Just for Us" features clay panels sourced from Tamil Nadu; Skarma Sonam Tashi's "Echoes of Home" represents traditional Ladakhi homes; and Ranjani Shettar's "Under the same sky" presents a leafy canopy. Designed as a dreamlike habitat, the pavilion delves into themes of memory and belonging, captured by photographers Joe Habben and Andrea Avezzù.
Key facts
- The India Pavilion at the 61st Venice Biennale is titled "Geographies of Distance: remembering home" and curated by Amin Jaffer.
- The exhibition runs from May 9 to November 22, 2026, at the Arsenale di Venezia.
- Sumakshi Singh's "Permanent Address" (2026) recreates her grandparents' home at 33 Link Road, New Delhi, where they moved as refugees after the 1947 partition of India.
- Asim Waqif's "Chaal" (2026) draws on scaffolding visual grammar common in Indian cities.
- Alwar Balasubramaniam's "Not Just for Us" (2026) uses clay and soil from rural Tamil Nadu, with cracks from evaporation.
- Skarma Sonam Tashi's "Echoes of Home" (2026) is made from papier-mâché of cardboard and discarded books, bound with tamarind seed glue and clay from Leh.
- Ranjani Shettar's "Under the same sky" (2026) is handwoven from cotton and steel, then lacquered.
- Installation views were photographed by Joe Habben and Andrea Avezzù, courtesy the India Pavilion.
Entities
Artists
- Sumakshi Singh
- Asim Waqif
- Alwar Balasubramaniam
- Skarma Sonam Tashi
- Ranjani Shettar
- Amin Jaffer
- Shreya Ajmani
- Joe Habben
- Andrea Avezzù
- Dr. Amin Jaffer
- Alwar Balasubramaniam (Bala)
- Alma Feigis
- Koyo Kouoh
Institutions
- India Pavilion
- Venice Biennale
- La Biennale di Venezia
- Arsenale di Venezia
- ArtAsiaPacific
- National Pavilion of India
- Al Thani Collection
- Canvas
- Indian Pavilion
- Pavilion of India
- Ministry of Culture
- Nita Mukesh Ambani Cultural Centre
- Serendipity Arts
- The Al Thani Collection
- V&A
- STIR
- Venice Art Biennale
- Arsenale
Locations
- Venice
- Italy
- New Delhi
- India
- Tamil Nadu
- Leh
- Ladakh
- Arsenale
- Tirunelveli
- Hyderabad
- Bangalore
- Sagara
- Karnataka
- Delhi
- Chicago
- United States
- France
- Assam
- 33 Link Road, New Delhi