Nalini Malani at Venice Biennale 2026, a KNMA Collateral Event
Nalini Malani’s 'Of Woman Born', presented by the Kiran Nadar Museum of Art as a Collateral Event at the La Biennale di Venezia 2026, transforms Venice’s Magazzini del Sale into an immersive meditation on myth, violence, and women’s voices.
The Kiran Nadar Museum of Art presents Nalini Malani – Of Woman Born as a Collateral Event of the La Biennale di Venezia 2026. On view from 9 May to 22 November at Magazzini del Sale, the exhibition marks a significant international presentation of one of India’s most influential contemporary artists.
Conceived by Nalini Malani and curated by Roobina Karode, the installation transforms the historic Venetian site into a dynamic and immersive environment. Drawing from Malani’s Animation Chamber series, the work unfolds as a continually shifting field of projected images and sound.
Reflecting on the urgency of the present moment, Malani notes that “the daily experiences that are happening in the world make you want to clench your fists, grit your teeth, to shout out,” adding that politically engaged, cross cultural and historical dialogues have long formed the basis of her practice and remain a pressing necessity today.
Myth and Contemporary Urgency
At its core, the project reinterprets the Greek myth of Orestes, using it as a framework to reflect on contemporary violence and the enduring structures of patriarchy. Malani connects mythological narrative with present-day realities, foregrounding the experiences of women in contexts of conflict and erasure.
The installation comprises 67 animations created from more than 30,000 hand drawn images on iPad, projected across nine video channels. A 20 minute soundscape of women’s voices accompanies the visuals, producing a layered environment in which images appear, dissolve, and reconfigure. Viewers are invited to construct their own meanings within this fluid and multi-sensory space.
For over five decades, Malani’s work has engaged critically with questions of violence, displacement, and historical memory. Her practice moves across mediums and cultures, combining the hand made and the digital, while maintaining a sustained commitment to political and ethical inquiry.
Emphasising the significance of the presentation, Kiran Nadar, Founder and Chairperson of KNMA, described Malani as “one of the most vital voices in contemporary art today,” noting that the exhibition continues her “fearless ethical position on violence, displacement, and the silencing of women.”
Public Engagement and Citywide Presence
A recurring figure in Malani’s work, the Skipping Girl appears throughout the Venice presentation as a symbol of freedom and resilience. During the Biennale, visitors will encounter her across the city through posters, banners, and vaporetto signage leading to the exhibition. Digital access points allow fragments of the animations to circulate beyond the installation, extending its presence into the urban landscape.
The exhibition will be accompanied by a series of public programmes, including a pre-opening conversation featuring Malani, Karode, and Carolyn Christov-Bakargiev. From August to October, intergenerational workshops will further explore the themes and processes central to Malani’s practice. A publication with contributions from leading curators and scholars will also be released.
KNMA has played a sustained role in presenting and supporting Malani’s work, including organising her major retrospective You Can’t Keep Acid in a Paper Bag in New Delhi and supporting international exhibitions in Paris and Italy. This Venice presentation continues that long-standing engagement, bringing Malani’s work into dialogue with a global audience.
