Indian pavilion explores the meaning of home in Venice
Indian artists explore the fluid, memory-driven nature of home in a Venice Biennale exhibition.
Skarma Sonam Tashi, "Echoes of Home" (2026) (photo Andrea Avezzù, courtesy Indian Pavilion) (Photo via Hyperallergic)
The Indian Pavilion at the 61st Venice Biennale is currently presenting an exhibition titled Geographies of Distance: Remembering Home. The showcase, which remains open to visitors through Nov. 22, 2026, examines how the concept of home is shaped by personal memory and ritual rather than fixed physical locations.
Curated by Dr. Amin Jaffer, the exhibition features works from five artists: Alwar Balasubramaniam, Sumakshi Singh, Ranjani Shettar, Asim Waqif, and Skarma Sonam Tashi. The installations reflect on identity and belonging during a period of rapid urbanization in India, drawing from diverse landscapes ranging from rural Tamil Nadu to the traditional architecture of Ladakh.
Jaffer described the pavilion as a reflection on identity during a time of accelerated change. He stated that the work proposes the idea that home is a condition people carry with them rather than solely a physical place they inhabit.
The exhibition is presented by the Ministry of Culture, Government of India, in partnership with the Nita Mukesh Ambani Cultural Centre and Serendipity Arts. This presentation marks India's return to the Venice Biennale following a seven-year absence, with the country's last participation occurring in 2019.