Artist Nalini Malani will present a solo exhibition titled "Of Woman Born" at the 61st Venice Biennale in 2026. The show features a site-specific installation commissioned by the Kiran Nadar Museum of Art, comprising 67 animations with over 30,000 iPad drawings and a haunting soundscape. The work centers on the Greek myth of Orestes, who kills his mother Clytemnestra, and explores themes of violence against women, motherhood, and justice. Malani, now 80, has been a key figure in bringing Indian contemporary art to global prominence, with her work held by major institutions including Tate, MoMA, and Centre Pompidou.
This exhibition matters because Malani uses classical mythology to confront contemporary issues of war, gender-based violence, and impunity, drawing parallels between ancient narratives and today's conflicts. By foregrounding the perspectives of wronged or silenced women from Hindu and Greek mythology, she challenges canonical stories and offers a feminist critique. The show also highlights the growing international recognition of Indian contemporary art and the role of major institutions like the Kiran Nadar Museum of Art in commissioning ambitious, politically engaged works for a global stage.