Nalini Malani: Of Woman Born

"The daily experiences that are happening in the world make you want to clench your fists, grit your teeth, to shout out—in a moment of hysteria”. —Nalini Malani About The Kiran Nadar Museum of Art is proud to announce Nalini Malani: Of Woman Born, a major site-specific commission and official collateral event of the 61st International Venice Biennale. Reaffirming the museum's commitment to supporting artists whose work speaks from India while addressing global urgencies, KNMA Founder and Chairperson Kiran Nadar positions Malani's decades-long practice as an articulation of "a fearless ethical position on violence, displacement, and the silencing of women." The exhibition curated by Roobina Karode offers a contemporary reflection on the ancient Greek figure Orestes, who killed his mother in retaliation for the death of his father and was ultimately pardoned by Athena despite being pursued by the Furies. For Nalini Malani, the present moment resonates with this myth, where wars are waged in the name of self-defence, and those who perpetrate violence frequently remain unaccountable. Through this parallel, Malani urges a rethinking of geopolitical demarcations and foregrounds the agency of women who bear the brunt of global conflict. In her practice, memory is activated through materials, contexts, and imagination; sources drawn from literature, mythology, and philosophy dissolve and reconfigure through technological mediation, dispersing into wider publics. For Malani: "The daily experiences that are happening in the world make you want to clench your fists, grit your teeth, to shout out—in a moment of hysteria—standing with your back against the wall when the tragedy of life takes the upper hand." Read more Toggle Film / Video Audio / Sound