7th August - 31st December 2025
The Third Edition of the Bihar Museum Biennale 2025 brings together museums and cultural institutions from across Asia, Latin America, Africa and India to present a theme, ‘Global South: Sharing histories’. This edition continues the spirit of dialogue and collaboration initiated in earlier editions, expanding the scope of participation and curatorial engagement.
Concept Of Logo
The logo for the Bihar Museum Biennale 2025: Global South: Sharing Histories, draws inspiration from the ‘Tree of Life’, a symbol of interconnectedness found across Asia, Africa, and South America. It combines the iconic baobab trunk of Africa, the sacred peepal foliage of Asia, and the vibrant biodiversity of South America, depicted in the Otomi and Lliclla textile styles.
This fusion reflects shared cultural roots and belief systems of the Global South, while continuing the tradition of tree symbolism seen in the logos of the Bihar Museum and the Department of Tourism, Bihar.
Shri Anjani Kumar Singh, Director General of Bihar Museum, shares his vision for the Bihar Museum Biennale 2025, titled “Global South: Sharing Histories,” which is set to commence on 7th August 2025.
3rd - 18th June
Venue - Multipurpose Hall
Evolution: Torres Strait Masks:
Organised by Bihar Museum in collaboration with National Museum Australia, Australian Consulate-General, Kolkata, India and Gab Titui Cultural Centre celebrates the rich and continuing tradition of mask-making in Zenadh Kes (Torres Strait). The graphic panel display features images of artworks, contextual photographs and text from the National Museum of Australia.
Yiwarra Kuju: The Canning Stock Route exhibition:
Organised by Bihar Museum in collaboration with National Museum Australia, Australian Consulate-General, Kolkata, India and Gab Titui Cultural Centre. The exhibition reveals the richness of desert life. It tells a story of contact, conflict and survival, of exodus and return, seen through Aboriginal eyes, and interpreted through their voices, art and new media.
6th August
Bihar Museum - Buddha Smriti Park - Patna Museum
A guided journey through Patna’s cultural corridor, tracing layers of history, memory, and identity from ancient relics to contemporary interpretations. This walk invites participants to experience the city as a living museum, connecting key institutions that embody Bihar’s enduring legacy and its evolving place within the Global South.
7th August
Countries and Exhibitions
Sri Lanka | Mexico | Indonesia | Ethiopia | Peru | Argentina | Kazakhstan | Ecuador
Participating Artists & Museums
IGNCA | NGMA | ICCR | Sara Kenderdin | Mehrangargh
7th August - 7th September
Venue - Children’s Mezzanine
This exhibition features a collection of works by three Sri Lankan artists Jagath Ravindra, Pinki Madewala and Shanaka Kulathunga. These works revolve around identity, relationships, beauty, struggle, emotions, loss and a kaleidoscope of human existence. With great variation in style, format, expression and tone, the works express and preserve the state of being through the medium of art.
7th August - 7th September
Venue – Patna Museum Temporary Gallery
This exhibition brings together works by visual artist Eva Malhotra and the Embassy of Mexico in India. The works of Eva Malhotra take inspiration from the Maya Population who are a group of people who have lived for millennia, mostly in the Mesoamerican territory of Southern Mexico and Guatemala. From the Embassy of Mexico, one can experience the different cultures of Mexico through 12 pre-hispanic artefacts and 13 photographs. One can also experience the different cultures of Mexico through the textiles on display.
7th August - 7th September
Venue - Children’s Gallery Classroom
This exhibition presented by the ICCR brings together Ramayana-inspired artefacts, traditions and art forms from around twenty countries. The significance of this exhibition lies not just in its scale but in its spirit. It represents a conscious effort to acknowledge the global footprints of the Ramayana; how the narrative travelled through trade, migration, performance and oral tradition; how it was embraced and adapted by various cultures. From Bali to Trinidad, one can see how the Ramayana shaped language, law, dance, theatre and moral codes across civilisations.
7th August - 21st September
Venue - Multipurpose Hall
India and Indonesia share a civilisational bond spanning two millennia that is reflected in culture, language and history. To capture the essence of this relationship, the theme of the exhibition is “A Bridge of Civilisations”, which celebrates the shared richness and longstanding ties that were nurtured through maritime trade routes, temple architecture, integration of Sanskrit words into the Indonesian language and of course, the continuing legacies of the Ramayana and Mahabharata.
7th August - 21st September
Venue - Multipurpose Hall
Ethiopian artist Mihiretu Wassie expresses her artistic vision through buttons and leather scarps. For her, the colour, pattern, texture of these buttons connect her art to traditions of Ethiopian cultural dresses. She uses these buttons and leather scraps as puzzles to bring her work to life. The result of these artworks are epic narratives that captivate us with an almost hypnotic force.
7th August - 31st September
Venue - Temporary Exhibition Gallery
The Bihar Museum, Patna and the Indira Gandhi National Centre for the Arts (IGNCA), New Delhi is presenting an international exhibition of traditional masks from the continents of the Global South, Asia, Africa and Latin America. This exhibition will showcase the diversity and depth of mask traditions across three continents and look at the symbolic, performative and ritualistic dimensions of this age-old art form.
7th August - 31st September
Venue - Temporary Exhibition Gallery
This exhibition of artworks from the NGMA highlights creative practices from the global ‘periphery’. The exhibition explores the shared experiences of economic and cultural subjugation and solidarity between the three continents of the global south. The exhibition looks at how artists have negotiated identity and belonging, and forging a space beyond traditional global hierarchies.
10th August
A cinematic lens into regional storytelling that resonates with shared global histories reinforcing the Biennale’s vision of curating cultural dialogue and connected heritage.
7th October - 7th November
Venue - Multipurpose Hall
The exhibition invites you on a journey of discovery of Peru through mixing history and textiles with tales of culture. The textiles and reproduction of different types of clothes and accessories narrates the tale of the different ancient Peruvian cultures. Along with this, the sixty four fine replicas of pottery and clay artefacts and Pre-Inca ceramics produced by Andean civilisations developed between 900 BC to 1000 AD in different regions of Peru offer a peek into the daily lives and beliefs.
17th September - 30th October
Venue - Children’s Gallery Classroom
This wide-ranging photography exhibition invites you on a journey to discover the stories, the landscapes and the soul of Argentina through the photographs of Pablo Katlirevsky. This exhibition is like taking a walk around Argentina to experience the frozen moments, the glances that cross out and look at photography as a witness to those things that should not get lost in oblivion.
17th September to 30th October
Venue - Patna Museum Temporary Gallery
This exhibition focuses on the Patna Kalam Painting of Bihar. These paintings were developed in Patna under the patronage of the British by combining the Indian miniature painting style and the western style. One of the first art styles in the world to give place to common people and their daily life on canvas. More than one hundred and fifty paintings of Patna Kalam are on display in the exhibition. Apart from the paintings preserved in the Patna Museum, it also includes paintings donated by Sanjay Kumar, Dhanbad, a descendant of the famous Patna Kalam painter Hulas Lal.
17th September - 30th November
Venue - Bapu Tower Temporary Gallery
The independent Republic of Kazakhstan is a young state, but despite this, its history goes back thousands of years and is closely intertwined with ancient civilisations. The exhibition, brought by the Presidential Center of the Republic of Kazakhstan, narrates the story of Kazakhstan’s national history and the spiritual legacy by looking at the social and political institutions from ancient times to the present day, the great statesmen, the sacred symbols of power, as well as the art of war and the culture of nomadic weapons.
7th November - 7th December
Venue - Patna Museum Temporary Gallery
Archival materials and cultural references to the idea of ‘home’, ‘where we grew up’ often appear in the artistic languages of the diasporic artists who are descendents of the indentured labour migration as well as artists from the Bihar region. This exhibition looks at the idea of ‘home’ in the works of artists from the Caribbean and the Indian Ocean as well as artists from Bihar who create a visual language that points to multiple interpretations of identity and memory. This exhibition makes one reconnect to the idea of ‘home’ and gives an opportunity to reimagine lives that have bygone.
16th November - 31st December
Venue - Multipurpose Hall
Ecuador, in northwestern South America, is home to four unique geographic regions. This diversity has shaped a rich cultural and ecological heritage. Archaeological evidence from the upper Amazon, reveals that cacao (Theobroma cacao) was first domesticated here over 5,500 years ago, which makes Ecuador the true origin of cacao in the world. This exhibition narrates the story of Ecuador’s legacy as the cradle of cacao that continues to influence global chocolate traditions of the world today.
7th November - 31st December
Venue - Children’s Gallery Classroom
The manifested form of Devī is identified with different names performing different roles. She is the primordial cosmic energy that drives the universe, embodying the unity of creation, preservation, destruction and transformation. She is beyond human dualities and limitations, embodying the Creator (Bramhā), the Preserver (Viṣṇu) and the Destroyer (Śiva). Through miniature paintings from Mehrangarh Museum Trust, the exhibition showcases the Divine Feminine with its multifaceted aspect.
15th December 2025 - 30th June 2026
Venue - Children’s Mezzanine
Double Truth II is an interactive installation that explores how today’s technologies unite to replicate cultural artefacts with remarkable fidelity. Showcasing a series of significant objects from the Bihar Museum collections in Patna spanning Jain, Hindu and Buddhist traditions, the installation focuses on affirming and activating visitors’ sensory experiences.
Exhibitions
Paintings, sculptures, pottery, photographs, and installations
Curated exhibitions from each participating country
Contributions from the Indian diaspora
Three premier Indian institutions will present their exhibitions:
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National Gallery of Modern Art (New Delhi)
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Indira Gandhi National Centre for the Arts (IGNCA)
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Mehrangarh Museum Trust (Rajasthan)
Immersive Digital Installations
An innovative presentation that highlights key artefacts and sculptures from the Bihar Museum collection.
Cultural Programmes
Performances by cultural troupes from participating nations
8th August 2025
Welcome Speech
11.00 am
Shri Anjani Kumar Singh, Director General, Bihar Museum
Keynote Address
11.30 am - 12.30 pm
Prof. Anil Sooklal, High Commissioner of South Africa to India
Speech on Intangible Heritage
12.30 - 1.00 pm
Tim Curtis, Director and Representative, UNESCO India
Memory, Empathy, Conflict within Museums (Experts and Curators from India, Mexico)
(2.00 - 4.00 pm)
This session explores how museums in the Global South carry the weight of memory, history, and unresolved conflict. Avni Sethi and Eva Malhotra will engage with questions of curatorial responsibility, cultural memory, and the ethics of representation. Objects in these spaces are not passive, they speak, they testify, they resist. Through the lens of India and Mexico, we look at the museum as a site of power, emotion, and struggle. Empathy becomes a curatorial method, and conflict a doorway to deeper engagement with our pasts.
Dr Alka Pande, Academic Director and Editor for the Third Bihar Museum Biennale, Moderator
Avni Sethi, Conflictorium, India, Panellist
Eva Malhotra, Visual Artist, Mexico, Panellist
Music as a Cross-Cultural Experience, (Experts from countries including India, South Africa & Argentina)
4.30 - 6.00 pm
This session listens to the soundscapes of the Global South across India, Argentina, and South Africa, where music is memory, migration, and resistance. Dr Ajit Pradhan, Alejandro Lepez, and Philippa Namutebi Kabali-Kagwa will reflect on the ways music transcends borders and carries the imprint of lived histories. Music becomes a language beyond words, a vessel of cultural memory shaped by histories of colonisation and freedom. It carries the pulse of everyday life, of ritual, of protest. Through voices and rhythms, we trace how cultures connect across continents.
Dr Alka Pande, Academic Director and Editor for the Third Bihar Museum Biennale, Session Introduction
Nidheesh Tyagi, Co-founder, Abir Pothi, India Moderator
Dr Ajit Pradhan, Indian Classical Music, India Panellist
Alejandro Lepez, Music Professional and Cultural Researcher, Latin American Music, Argentina, Panellist
Philippa Namutebi Kabali-Kagwa, Storyteller, Executive Coach and Facilitator, South Africa, Panellist
9th August 2025
Masks: Shamans, Myths, Symbols, (Experts from countries including India, Ethiopia & Mexico)
11.00 am - 1.00 pm
This session aims to address the concerns around shamans, masks and magic. Agegnehu Adane Dilnesahu, Dr Achal Pandya and Sari Sasaki will look at the context of materiality, myth, metaphor, magic and rituals of masks and mask-making. All the countries of the Global South have a tradition of mask-making. This is a living tradition which continues till today. Masks are symbols of sacred powers and of identity. Mask-making has been integral to all the indigenous societies of the Global South. The discussion around masks unfolds through people, through material, and through lived experiences.
Dr Alka Pande, Academic Director and Editor for the Third Bihar Museum Biennale, Moderator
Dr Achal Pandya, Head of Department, Conservation and Cultural Archives, India, Panellist
Sari Sasaki, International Expert and Researcher on masks of Africa and Latin America, Panellist
Power of the Feminine Gender, Sexuality & Material Culture, (Experts from countries including India, Sri Lanka & Thailand)
2.00 pm - 4.00 pm
This session centres on the power of the feminine as it moves through gender, sexuality, and material culture. Jagath Ravindra and Asst. Prof. Dr. Anucha Thirakanont will explore how feminine energies are expressed through form, ritual, and symbolic practices across their cultural landscapes. In India, Sri Lanka, and Thailand, the feminine has been a site of both creative force and shaping craft and representation in epics. From textiles and bodily adornment to abstract visual languages, the feminine manifests in forms that are sensuous, symbolic, and spiritual.
Dr Alka Pande, Academic Director and Editor for the Third Bihar Museum Biennale, Moderator
Juan Garibay, National Coordinator INAH, Mexico, Panellist
Jagath Ravindra, Director General of VAPA television and Visual Art, Colombo, Sri Lanka, Panellist
Seema Kohli, Multidisciplinary artist, India, Panellist
Buildings as Metaphor: Ramayana Narratives of South East Asia, Stories from the Global South, (Experts from countries including India, Indonesia & Thailand)
4.30 - 6.30 pm
This seminar journeys through temples, palaces, and cities where the Ramayana lives in stone, wood, and mural. Parul Pandya Dhar, Dr Agus Widyatmoko, and Professor Dr Pornrat Damrung will share insights into how architecture reinterprets epic narratives across their regions. Across India, Indonesia, and Thailand, buildings are metaphors, they carry memory, mythology, and moral codes. Architecture becomes narrative, and narrative becomes place. We explore how epic stories migrate, evolve, and remain rooted in the cultural landscapes of the Global South.
Dr Alka Pande, Academic Director and Editor for the Third Bihar Museum Biennale, Moderator
Dr Parul Pandya Dhar, Department of History, University of Delhi, India, Panellist
Dr Agus Widyatmoko, Chief of Cultural Preservation Agency Region V, Indonesian Ministry of Culture, Indonesia, Panellist
Professor Dr. Pornrat Damrung Creative Researcher in Performance Arts, Applied Drama and Traditional Theatre, Thailand, Panellist
Pablo Ariel Katlirevsky
Pablo Ariel Katlirevsky
He holds a Bachelor's degree in Filmmaking from Argentina and a Postgraduate qualification in Documentary Production from Colombia, with professional experience in advertising and film production since 2008. Commencing a career in the production sector of the film industry, a significant shift occurred in 2017 with the acquisition of a first personal camera. Since then, has pursued filmmaking independently, developing skills through self-directed learning, online tutorials, and digital platforms. The journey of exploration and growth continues, with a deep commitment to ongoing learning and creative development in the field.
Dr. Priya Swamy
Dr. Priya Swamy
Dr. Priya Swamy holds a BA in World Religions from McGill University (Canada) and an MPhil and PhD in Area Studies from Leiden University. Her research critically engages with the ways in which people in and from South Asian diasporas innovate and rearticulate their religious and political beliefs across historical moments and social contexts. In order to trouble Hindu nationalist rhetoric, her work has focused on diasporic locations such as Suriname and the Netherlands, where Hindu material culture and religious practice can help us construct alternative narratives and histories of religion and ritual. Her focus has been on the legacies and material culture of Indian indentured labour not only to deepen solidarities and historical understanding across various South Asian Diasporas, but to understand these legacies and objects as belonging to multiple, creolized locations such as the Caribbean. Her current research grapples with questions of caste dominance in collection and exhibition practices, in order to think through the potential that political categories like Bahujan (‘the many’, ‘majority’), have to repair and redefine the ways in which South Asia and its diasporas are articulated in museums. Her curatorial work prioritizes community-based approaches and projects, where the joys and challenges of curation are open to those who may not have previously thought about their reparative and creative potential. She is committed to mentoring young people whose histories and material culture have been marginalized or ignored by museums in the past. She also values work with contemporary artists whose practice can intervene into ‘representational provenances’ (Swamy and Lewis 2021) of objects, collections and exhibitions at Wereldmuseum. In the past, she has lectured and held postdoctoral positions. She has been published in Citizenship Studies, International Journal of Hindu Studies, Contemporary South Asia and by Bloomsbury Press.
Ms Rakhi Sarkar
Ms Rakhi Sarkar
Founder of Centre of International Modern Art. She received her education at Presidency College, Kolkata and the Institute of International Relations, Trinidad and Tobago. She has curated and organized more than 200 art exhibitions across India, UK, Singapore and Canada.
Dr. Jahnavi Phalkey
Dr. Jahnavi Phalkey
A filmmaker, author, editor and historian of science and technology. She is the Founding Director of Science Gallery, Bengaluru and Sir Asutosh Mukherjee visiting professor at the National Institute of Advanced Studies.
Dr. Pheroza Godrej
Dr. Pheroza Godrej
An environmentalist, writer and a PhD in Ancient Indian Culture, she founded the Cymroza Art Gallery in Mumbai. She is closely associated with the CSMVS, NGMA, INTACH, ICCR the Museum Society of Bombay.
Hala Warde
Hala Warde
An architect of Museums, Hala Wardé trained at the École Spéciale d'Architecture in Paris. She established HW architecture. In 2016 Wardé won the architectural competition for the Beirut Museum of Art.
Anthony Lopez
Anthony Lopez
Founder and Chief Creative Director of Lopez Design, Delhi. His passion for excellence — in ideation, in-process, and delivery is backed up with his philosophy ‘The why of what we do is more important than what we do’. His empathetic and people-driven approach has garnered the trust of leading organizations and heads, pushing the boundaries of design for the greater good.
Ms. Malini Goyal
Ms. Malini Goyal
Founder @UnboxingBlr. A business journalist for close to three decades with stints at India's leading publications including The Economic Times, India Today, Forbes magazine and a brief stint at Seattle Post-Intelligencer in the US.
Mr. David Szabo
Mr. David Szabo
Head of Management and PR Division of the Beaux Arts, Hungary Budapest.
Dr. Lars-Christian Koch
Dr. Lars-Christian Koch
Director of the Staatliche Museen zu Berlin collections in the Humboldt Forum since the beginning of 2018. An ethnomusicologist by training, he was previously acting head of the Ethnologisches Museum.
Michael Peter Edson
Michael Peter Edson
A strategist and thought leader at the forefront of transformation in the cultural sector, the founding Director of the Museum of Solutions (MuSo). Previously, Michael was the co-founder of the Museum of the United Nations – UN Live, and the Director of Web and New Media Strategy for the Smithsonian Institution.
Prashanth Prakash
Prashanth Prakash
Tech Investor and promotor of Unboxing Bengaluru
Batul Raaj Mehta
Batul Raaj Mehta
Founding Partner of BRMA and Museum and Culture Planner
Mr. Sabyasachi Mukherjee
Mr. Sabyasachi Mukherjee
Director General, CSMVS
Mr Stephen Inglis
Mr Stephen Inglis
A Ph.D. from University of British Columbia, and currently an Adjunct Research Professor at Carlton University, Mr Stephen Inglis has been a researcher, curator and then Director-General of Research and Collections at the Canadian Museum of Civilization.
Prof. Amareswar Galla
Prof. Amareswar Galla
PhD, UNESCO Chair on Inclusive Museums & Sustainable Heritage Development, Anant National University, Ahmedabad
Prof. Yannick Lintz
Prof. Yannick Lintz
A doctor of history, she is currently the President of the Guimet National Museum of Asian Arts, Paris, France. An expert in the arts and civilizations of Asia and Islamic history and culture, she successfully carried out 18 simultaneous Islamic art exhibitions in France In 2021
Dr. Saryu Doshi
Dr. Saryu Doshi
An Indian art scholar, art historian, academician and curator, she is the founder director of the National Gallery of Modern Art, Mumbai and a former pro-tem chairman of the Lalit Kala Academy, New Delhi.
Upasana Nattoji Roy
Upasana Nattoji Roy
Founder Director of Switch Studio. She specialises in creating nuanced narratives through techart for immersive engaging experiences.
Zameer Basrai
Zameer Basrai
Co-founder of The Busride Design studio. He has degrees from CEPT, Ahmedabad, India and Massachusetts Institute of Technology, USA and when he can, teaches architectural design at KRVIA, Mumbai.
Jagath Ravindra
Jagath Ravindra
With a career spanning three decades, JagathRavindra (b.1963, Madampe) is a leading figure in contemporary Sri Lankan art. His works are characterized by an exploration of fleeting moments, captured through interplay of colors and a heightened sensory experience enhanced by scale. Blending the Impressionist pursuit of transience with the evocative visual language of abstraction, Ravindra reimagines ephemeral moments through a uniquely tropical lens. His practice strikes a balance between personal introspection and universal themes of memory and existence. JagathRavindra graduated with a BFA from the Institute of Aesthetics, University of Kelaniya, Kelaniya (1990) and a Postgraduate Diploma in Archeology from the University of Kelaniya, Kelaniya(1991). He also has an MSc in Philosophy from the University of Kelaniya, Sri Lanka (2014). Ravindra served as the former Dean of the Faculty of Visual Arts at the University of the Visual and Performing Arts in Colombo. Ravindra has been featured in prominent exhibitions such as the Colombo Biennale, Colombo (2009); the 6th Silk Road International Art Exhibition, Xian (2019); and the Asian Art Biennale, Dhaka (2008, 2006, and 2001). Internationally, his art has been showcased at XVA Gallery, Dubai (2007 and 2005); The Noble Sage Art Gallery, London (2006); and the Serendipity October Gallery, London (2002). His work is part of the permanent collections at the Xi’an Art Museum and the Central Bank of Sri Lanka.
Pinki Kumari Madawela
Pinki Kumari Madawela
Born in the village of Sahu Parbatta near Bhagalpur, Bihar, in North India, Pinki Kumari Tanuja Madawela’s artistic journey is deeply shaped by the stark contrasts of her homeland—its natural beauty and its harsh realities. Recurrent floods and the displacement of communities left an indelible impact on her, informing the emotional depth and perspective of her art. It is perhaps fitting that Bihar, a land of both suffering and spiritual awakening, is where Lord Buddha attained enlightenment. Pinki pursued her formal education in the arts at Visva-Bharati University in Shantiniketan, founded by the visionary Nobel laureate Rabindranath Tagore. She completed her bachelor's and master's degrees under the mentorship of Rani Chanda, Tagore’s daughter and a significant cultural figure in her own right. This environment of intellectual and creative freedom deeply influenced Pinki’s philosophy and practice. Her paintings celebrate colour, luminescence, and form with a sense of gaiety and optimism—an expressive response to the difficult realities she has witnessed. She often works with found objects and non-traditional materials sourced from her surroundings, allowing her to create a visual language that is both personal and grounded in lived experience. Though she has been inspired by various cultural landscapes—from the rich sculptural traditions of Karnataka’s ancient sites like Hampi and Halebid, to the vibrant artistic life of Mysore—Pinki now resides in Sri Lanka. The island's natural beauty, diverse heritage and tranquil environment offer her a new canvas of inspiration. Here, surrounded by a different rhythm of life, she continues to evolve her art, drawing strength from nature, memory, and gratitude. Her work is a testament to resilience, transformation and the enduring power of creativity to bring joy, both to the artist and to those who engage with her art.
Mr. Agegnehu Adane Dilnesahu
Mr. Agegnehu Adane Dilnesahu
I am a visual artist and academic based in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. My artistic practice focuses on themes of memory, symbolism, cultural identity, and visual storytelling. I work primarily in printmaking, painting, and mixed media, drawing from Ethiopia’s rich visual traditions and literary heritage to explore the ways personal and collective histories are expressed through form and image. My training in classical printmaking and visual communication has shaped a practice that values both technical discipline and conceptual depth. I often reference elements from ecclesiastical art, folklore, and indigenous design—reinterpreting these sources to engage with contemporary concerns. Rather than replicating traditional forms, I use them as starting points to reflect on shifting cultural meanings and aesthetic languages. Since 2016, I have served as the Director of the Alle School of Fine Arts and Design at Addis Ababa University. In this role, I have been involved in academic leadership, curriculum development, and institutional collaborations that aim to strengthen visual arts education in Ethiopia. I work closely with colleagues and students to build a learning environment that honors tradition while encouraging innovation. Alongside my academic responsibilities, I continue to maintain an active studio practice. My work has been included in exhibitions in Ethiopia and abroad, often presented in connection with curatorial or educational projects. These experiences allow me to remain grounded in the artistic process while contributing to broader cultural conversations. As both an artist and educator, I am committed to fostering thoughtful engagement with Ethiopia’s visual culture past and present. I see art as a means of reflection, communication, and connection, and I approach my practice with curiosity, care, and a deep respect for the role of art in society.
Ngaire Blankenberg
Ngaire Blankenberg
Ngaire Blankenberg is a Canadian-born South African museum designer, consultant, and administrator. She is a former director of the Smithsonian National Museum of African Art. Blankenberg's parents are South African and she was born in Winnipeg, Manitoba. Her mother is White and her father is Coloured (and albino); they had relocated to Canada as their interracial marriage was illegal in South Africa at that time. She earned a journalism degree from Carleton University and worked for 12 years in television and documentaries, including a year as a videographer on the CBC newsmagazine series Road Movies, before moving to South Africa to study media and cultural studies, earning a masters degree from the University of Natal. She moved back to Canada and began working as a museum designer and consultant. Blankenberg has worked with the National Gallery of Canada in Ottawa, Superblue Miami, the museum at Constitution Hill, Johannesburg, and the Canadian Museum for Human Rights in Winnipeg. She is noted for her expertise in developing decolonization plans for cultural institutions as well as concept development and public engagement. Blankenberg has worked as a consultant with Dutch design firm Kossmann.dejong and with Toronto-based Lord Cultural Resources, where she was principal consultant. In 2016, along with Lord co-founder Gail Lord, she co-edited Cities, Museums and Soft Power for the American Alliance of Museums. Lord and Blankenberg argued that the concept of soft power should be expanded from the political sphere to include "cultural and urban life." From 2021 until 2023, she was the director of the National Museum of African Art in Washington, D.C. when she was appointed director on July 7, 2021, she announced her ambition to "redefine, heal and reconcile". During her tenure, Blankenberg was a leading advocate for repatriation of artifacts in the museum's collection, and in 2022 the museum returned 29 looted Benin Bronzes to Nigeria. Blankenberg resigned from her position on March 31, 2023, citing "individual and institutional resistance".Following her resignation, Blankenberg returned to South Africa.
Pablo Ariel Katlirevsky
Pablo Ariel Katlirevsky
He holds a Bachelor's degree in Filmmaking from Argentina and a Postgraduate qualification in Documentary Production from Colombia, with professional experience in advertising and film production since 2008. Commencing a career in the production sector of the film industry, a significant shift occurred in 2017 with the acquisition of a first personal camera. Since then, has pursued filmmaking independently, developing skills through self-directed learning, online tutorials, and digital platforms. The journey of exploration and growth continues, with a deep commitment to ongoing learning and creative development in the field.
Dr. Priya Swamy
Dr. Priya Swamy
Dr. Priya Swamy holds a BA in World Religions from McGill University (Canada) and an MPhil and PhD in Area Studies from Leiden University. Her research critically engages with the ways in which people in and from South Asian diasporas innovate and rearticulate their religious and political beliefs across historical moments and social contexts. In order to trouble Hindu nationalist rhetoric, her work has focused on diasporic locations such as Suriname and the Netherlands, where Hindu material culture and religious practice can help us construct alternative narratives and histories of religion and ritual. Her focus has been on the legacies and material culture of Indian indentured labour not only to deepen solidarities and historical understanding across various South Asian Diasporas, but to understand these legacies and objects as belonging to multiple, creolized locations such as the Caribbean. Her current research grapples with questions of caste dominance in collection and exhibition practices, in order to think through the potential that political categories like Bahujan (‘the many’, ‘majority’), have to repair and redefine the ways in which South Asia and its diasporas are articulated in museums. Her curatorial work prioritizes community-based approaches and projects, where the joys and challenges of curation are open to those who may not have previously thought about their reparative and creative potential. She is committed to mentoring young people whose histories and material culture have been marginalized or ignored by museums in the past. She also values work with contemporary artists whose practice can intervene into ‘representational provenances’ (Swamy and Lewis 2021) of objects, collections and exhibitions at Wereldmuseum. In the past, she has lectured and held postdoctoral positions. She has been published in Citizenship Studies, International Journal of Hindu Studies, Contemporary South Asia and by Bloomsbury Press.
Ms Rakhi Sarkar
Ms Rakhi Sarkar
Founder of Centre of International Modern Art. She received her education at Presidency College, Kolkata and the Institute of International Relations, Trinidad and Tobago. She has curated and organized more than 200 art exhibitions across India, UK, Singapore and Canada.
Dr. Jahnavi Phalkey
Dr. Jahnavi Phalkey
A filmmaker, author, editor and historian of science and technology. She is the Founding Director of Science Gallery, Bengaluru and Sir Asutosh Mukherjee visiting professor at the National Institute of Advanced Studies.
Ms Rakhi Sarkar
Ms Rakhi Sarkar
Founder of Centre of International Modern Art. She received her education at Presidency College, Kolkata and the Institute of International Relations, Trinidad and Tobago. She has curated and organized more than 200 art exhibitions across India, UK, Singapore and Canada.
Dr. Jahnavi Phalkey
Dr. Jahnavi Phalkey
A filmmaker, author, editor and historian of science and technology. She is the Founding Director of Science Gallery, Bengaluru and Sir Asutosh Mukherjee visiting professor at the National Institute of Advanced Studies.
Dr. Pheroza Godrej
Dr. Pheroza Godrej
An environmentalist, writer and a PhD in Ancient Indian Culture, she founded the Cymroza Art Gallery in Mumbai. She is closely associated with the CSMVS, NGMA, INTACH, ICCR the Museum Society of Bombay.
Hala Warde
Hala Warde
An architect of Museums, Hala Wardé trained at the École Spéciale d'Architecture in Paris. She established HW architecture. In 2016 Wardé won the architectural competition for the Beirut Museum of Art.
Anthony Lopez
Anthony Lopez
Founder and Chief Creative Director of Lopez Design, Delhi. His passion for excellence — in ideation, in-process, and delivery is backed up with his philosophy ‘The why of what we do is more important than what we do’. His empathetic and people-driven approach has garnered the trust of leading organizations and heads, pushing the boundaries of design for the greater good.
Ms. Malini Goyal
Ms. Malini Goyal
Founder @UnboxingBlr. A business journalist for close to three decades with stints at India's leading publications including The Economic Times, India Today, Forbes magazine and a brief stint at Seattle Post-Intelligencer in the US.
Mr. David Szabo
Mr. David Szabo
Head of Management and PR Division of the Beaux Arts, Hungary Budapest.
Dr. Lars-Christian Koch
Dr. Lars-Christian Koch
Director of the Staatliche Museen zu Berlin collections in the Humboldt Forum since the beginning of 2018. An ethnomusicologist by training, he was previously acting head of the Ethnologisches Museum.
Michael Peter Edson
Michael Peter Edson
A strategist and thought leader at the forefront of transformation in the cultural sector, the founding Director of the Museum of Solutions (MuSo). Previously, Michael was the co-founder of the Museum of the United Nations – UN Live, and the Director of Web and New Media Strategy for the Smithsonian Institution.
Prashanth Prakash
Prashanth Prakash
Tech Investor and promotor of Unboxing Bengaluru
Batul Raaj Mehta
Batul Raaj Mehta
Founding Partner of BRMA and Museum and Culture Planner
Mr. Sabyasachi Mukherjee
Mr. Sabyasachi Mukherjee
Director General, CSMVS
Mr Stephen Inglis
Mr Stephen Inglis
A Ph.D. from University of British Columbia, and currently an Adjunct Research Professor at Carlton University, Mr Stephen Inglis has been a researcher, curator and then Director-General of Research and Collections at the Canadian Museum of Civilization.
Prof. Amareswar Galla
Prof. Amareswar Galla
PhD, UNESCO Chair on Inclusive Museums & Sustainable Heritage Development, Anant National University, Ahmedabad
Prof. Yannick Lintz
Prof. Yannick Lintz
A doctor of history, she is currently the President of the Guimet National Museum of Asian Arts, Paris, France. An expert in the arts and civilizations of Asia and Islamic history and culture, she successfully carried out 18 simultaneous Islamic art exhibitions in France In 2021
Dr. Saryu Doshi
Dr. Saryu Doshi
An Indian art scholar, art historian, academician and curator, she is the founder director of the National Gallery of Modern Art, Mumbai and a former pro-tem chairman of the Lalit Kala Academy, New Delhi.
Upasana Nattoji Roy
Upasana Nattoji Roy
Founder Director of Switch Studio. She specialises in creating nuanced narratives through techart for immersive engaging experiences.
Zameer Basrai
Zameer Basrai
Co-founder of The Busride Design studio. He has degrees from CEPT, Ahmedabad, India and Massachusetts Institute of Technology, USA and when he can, teaches architectural design at KRVIA, Mumbai.
Jagath Ravindra
Jagath Ravindra
With a career spanning three decades, JagathRavindra (b.1963, Madampe) is a leading figure in contemporary Sri Lankan art. His works are characterized by an exploration of fleeting moments, captured through interplay of colors and a heightened sensory experience enhanced by scale. Blending the Impressionist pursuit of transience with the evocative visual language of abstraction, Ravindra reimagines ephemeral moments through a uniquely tropical lens. His practice strikes a balance between personal introspection and universal themes of memory and existence. JagathRavindra graduated with a BFA from the Institute of Aesthetics, University of Kelaniya, Kelaniya (1990) and a Postgraduate Diploma in Archeology from the University of Kelaniya, Kelaniya(1991). He also has an MSc in Philosophy from the University of Kelaniya, Sri Lanka (2014). Ravindra served as the former Dean of the Faculty of Visual Arts at the University of the Visual and Performing Arts in Colombo. Ravindra has been featured in prominent exhibitions such as the Colombo Biennale, Colombo (2009); the 6th Silk Road International Art Exhibition, Xian (2019); and the Asian Art Biennale, Dhaka (2008, 2006, and 2001). Internationally, his art has been showcased at XVA Gallery, Dubai (2007 and 2005); The Noble Sage Art Gallery, London (2006); and the Serendipity October Gallery, London (2002). His work is part of the permanent collections at the Xi’an Art Museum and the Central Bank of Sri Lanka.
Pinki Kumari Madawela
Pinki Kumari Madawela
Born in the village of Sahu Parbatta near Bhagalpur, Bihar, in North India, Pinki Kumari Tanuja Madawela’s artistic journey is deeply shaped by the stark contrasts of her homeland—its natural beauty and its harsh realities. Recurrent floods and the displacement of communities left an indelible impact on her, informing the emotional depth and perspective of her art. It is perhaps fitting that Bihar, a land of both suffering and spiritual awakening, is where Lord Buddha attained enlightenment. Pinki pursued her formal education in the arts at Visva-Bharati University in Shantiniketan, founded by the visionary Nobel laureate Rabindranath Tagore. She completed her bachelor's and master's degrees under the mentorship of Rani Chanda, Tagore’s daughter and a significant cultural figure in her own right. This environment of intellectual and creative freedom deeply influenced Pinki’s philosophy and practice. Her paintings celebrate colour, luminescence, and form with a sense of gaiety and optimism—an expressive response to the difficult realities she has witnessed. She often works with found objects and non-traditional materials sourced from her surroundings, allowing her to create a visual language that is both personal and grounded in lived experience. Though she has been inspired by various cultural landscapes—from the rich sculptural traditions of Karnataka’s ancient sites like Hampi and Halebid, to the vibrant artistic life of Mysore—Pinki now resides in Sri Lanka. The island's natural beauty, diverse heritage and tranquil environment offer her a new canvas of inspiration. Here, surrounded by a different rhythm of life, she continues to evolve her art, drawing strength from nature, memory, and gratitude. Her work is a testament to resilience, transformation and the enduring power of creativity to bring joy, both to the artist and to those who engage with her art.
Mr. Agegnehu Adane Dilnesahu
Mr. Agegnehu Adane Dilnesahu
I am a visual artist and academic based in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. My artistic practice focuses on themes of memory, symbolism, cultural identity, and visual storytelling. I work primarily in printmaking, painting, and mixed media, drawing from Ethiopia’s rich visual traditions and literary heritage to explore the ways personal and collective histories are expressed through form and image. My training in classical printmaking and visual communication has shaped a practice that values both technical discipline and conceptual depth. I often reference elements from ecclesiastical art, folklore, and indigenous design—reinterpreting these sources to engage with contemporary concerns. Rather than replicating traditional forms, I use them as starting points to reflect on shifting cultural meanings and aesthetic languages. Since 2016, I have served as the Director of the Alle School of Fine Arts and Design at Addis Ababa University. In this role, I have been involved in academic leadership, curriculum development, and institutional collaborations that aim to strengthen visual arts education in Ethiopia. I work closely with colleagues and students to build a learning environment that honors tradition while encouraging innovation. Alongside my academic responsibilities, I continue to maintain an active studio practice. My work has been included in exhibitions in Ethiopia and abroad, often presented in connection with curatorial or educational projects. These experiences allow me to remain grounded in the artistic process while contributing to broader cultural conversations. As both an artist and educator, I am committed to fostering thoughtful engagement with Ethiopia’s visual culture past and present. I see art as a means of reflection, communication, and connection, and I approach my practice with curiosity, care, and a deep respect for the role of art in society.
Ngaire Blankenberg
Ngaire Blankenberg
Ngaire Blankenberg is a Canadian-born South African museum designer, consultant, and administrator. She is a former director of the Smithsonian National Museum of African Art. Blankenberg's parents are South African and she was born in Winnipeg, Manitoba. Her mother is White and her father is Coloured (and albino); they had relocated to Canada as their interracial marriage was illegal in South Africa at that time. She earned a journalism degree from Carleton University and worked for 12 years in television and documentaries, including a year as a videographer on the CBC newsmagazine series Road Movies, before moving to South Africa to study media and cultural studies, earning a masters degree from the University of Natal. She moved back to Canada and began working as a museum designer and consultant. Blankenberg has worked with the National Gallery of Canada in Ottawa, Superblue Miami, the museum at Constitution Hill, Johannesburg, and the Canadian Museum for Human Rights in Winnipeg. She is noted for her expertise in developing decolonization plans for cultural institutions as well as concept development and public engagement. Blankenberg has worked as a consultant with Dutch design firm Kossmann.dejong and with Toronto-based Lord Cultural Resources, where she was principal consultant. In 2016, along with Lord co-founder Gail Lord, she co-edited Cities, Museums and Soft Power for the American Alliance of Museums. Lord and Blankenberg argued that the concept of soft power should be expanded from the political sphere to include "cultural and urban life." From 2021 until 2023, she was the director of the National Museum of African Art in Washington, D.C. when she was appointed director on July 7, 2021, she announced her ambition to "redefine, heal and reconcile". During her tenure, Blankenberg was a leading advocate for repatriation of artifacts in the museum's collection, and in 2022 the museum returned 29 looted Benin Bronzes to Nigeria. Blankenberg resigned from her position on March 31, 2023, citing "individual and institutional resistance".Following her resignation, Blankenberg returned to South Africa.
Pablo Ariel Katlirevsky
Pablo Ariel Katlirevsky
He holds a Bachelor's degree in Filmmaking from Argentina and a Postgraduate qualification in Documentary Production from Colombia, with professional experience in advertising and film production since 2008. Commencing a career in the production sector of the film industry, a significant shift occurred in 2017 with the acquisition of a first personal camera. Since then, has pursued filmmaking independently, developing skills through self-directed learning, online tutorials, and digital platforms. The journey of exploration and growth continues, with a deep commitment to ongoing learning and creative development in the field.
Dr. Priya Swamy
Dr. Priya Swamy
Dr. Priya Swamy holds a BA in World Religions from McGill University (Canada) and an MPhil and PhD in Area Studies from Leiden University. Her research critically engages with the ways in which people in and from South Asian diasporas innovate and rearticulate their religious and political beliefs across historical moments and social contexts. In order to trouble Hindu nationalist rhetoric, her work has focused on diasporic locations such as Suriname and the Netherlands, where Hindu material culture and religious practice can help us construct alternative narratives and histories of religion and ritual. Her focus has been on the legacies and material culture of Indian indentured labour not only to deepen solidarities and historical understanding across various South Asian Diasporas, but to understand these legacies and objects as belonging to multiple, creolized locations such as the Caribbean. Her current research grapples with questions of caste dominance in collection and exhibition practices, in order to think through the potential that political categories like Bahujan (‘the many’, ‘majority’), have to repair and redefine the ways in which South Asia and its diasporas are articulated in museums. Her curatorial work prioritizes community-based approaches and projects, where the joys and challenges of curation are open to those who may not have previously thought about their reparative and creative potential. She is committed to mentoring young people whose histories and material culture have been marginalized or ignored by museums in the past. She also values work with contemporary artists whose practice can intervene into ‘representational provenances’ (Swamy and Lewis 2021) of objects, collections and exhibitions at Wereldmuseum. In the past, she has lectured and held postdoctoral positions. She has been published in Citizenship Studies, International Journal of Hindu Studies, Contemporary South Asia and by Bloomsbury Press.
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