Nalini Malani's latest animation chamber, *Of Woman Born*, is presented as a collateral event of the 61st Venice Biennale at the Magazzini del Sale, a former Venetian salt warehouse. Organized by India's Kiran Nadar Museum of Art (KNMA), the immersive installation uses finger-drawn iPad animations cast onto dark walls to create a womb-like space, exploring themes of maternal rage, mythology, and the weaponization of religious duty. The work draws on Adrienne Rich's 1977 book *Of Woman Born* and the Greek myth of the Eumenides, centering on female agency and the brutalities inflicted on women and children.
This presentation matters because it marks a significant moment for Malani, a pioneering Indian artist, within the prestigious context of the Venice Biennale, amplifying her ongoing critique of patriarchal violence and global conflict through a deeply personal, feminist lens. The installation also highlights the curatorial vision of the late Koyo Kouoh, whose statement for the 61st edition frames the work, and underscores KNMA's role in bringing contemporary Indian art to an international audience. By transforming darkness into a medium for reflection, Malani's work engages with urgent contemporary issues, from war crimes to environmental collapse, making it a resonant commentary on our collective present.