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Rishi Sunak, Akshata Murty visit India Pavilion in Venice
The couple spent time exploring works by prominent contemporary artists, highlighting the connection between traditional techniques and modern themes of identity, home and empowerment.
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Staff Reporter - Mon, 24, Aug 2026
- 04:14 EDT
- 68
Rishi Sunak, Akshata Murty / Fb@Ministry of Culture, GoI
Former British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak and his wife, Akshata Murty, visited the India Pavilion at the 61st International Art Exhibition, La Biennale di Venezia (Biennale Arte 2026), in Venice, Italy.
During their tour of the pavilion, located at the historic Arsenale di Venezia, the couple spent time exploring works by prominent contemporary artists, highlighting the connection between traditional techniques and modern themes of identity, home and empowerment.
Expressing his admiration for the showcase, Sunak said, “So wonderful to be here at the India Pavilion of the Venice Biennale, surrounded by the most extraordinary works of art, showcasing the talent that exists in India today.
“This piece that we’re in the middle of, by Sumakshi (Singh), we both love because of the embroidery and this idea of home from home and empowerment of women, but there’s so much to love here.”
Murty, who had previously seen the concept previewed at the India Art Fair, shared her excitement at seeing the final installations brought to life: “It’s so special to be here. I heard Sumakshi speak at the India Art Fair and saw a vision of what this would be, and here it is at the Biennale, in person to see this is amazing, and this concept of home translated in the most beautiful yet delicate way by technical skills such as embroidery, I think is beautiful to see.”
A moment of exploring cultural connections at the National Pavilion of India at the ongoing Venice Biennale!
— Ministry of Culture (@MinOfCultureGoI) August 23, 2026
The National Pavilion of India at the 61st International Art Exhibition, La Biennale di Venezia 2026, in Venice, Italy, had the pleasure of welcoming Mr. @RishiSunak, the… pic.twitter.com/DGmixyYMUJ
The couple also singled out the work of artist Ranjani Shettar from Karnataka. Murty noted her pride in seeing Shettar’s piece exploring “flowers and their importance in Indian culture,” praising it as “technically such a superior piece of artwork.”
They further reflected on the overarching theme of the showcase, highlighting how the collection uses “soil as something that is a foundation of who we are as beings.”
The India Pavilion, titled ‘Geographies of Distance: Remembering Home,’ was formally inaugurated on May 6, 2026, and will remain open to visitors through Nov. 22, 2026.
Also Read: Indian Consulate hosts launch of Amity Global Research hub in New York
India’s participation marks its return to the prestigious Biennale Arte after a seven-year hiatus, representing a vital step in the country’s cultural diplomacy.
Organized by the Ministry of Culture, Government of India, the effort brings together key national institutions, including the Indira Gandhi National Centre for the Arts (IGNCA), Lalit Kala Akademi and the National Gallery of Modern Art (NGMA), alongside collaborative partners such as the Nita Mukesh Ambani Cultural Centre (NMACC) and the Serendipity Arts Foundation.
The pavilion features exhibitions by Sakarma Sonam Tashi, Alwar Balasubramaniam, Ranjani Shettar, Sumakshi Singh and Asim Waqif, and explores themes of memory, identity, belonging and cultural continuity through a contemporary Indian perspective as India’s response to the Biennale’s overarching theme, ‘In Minor Keys.’
Discover more at New India Abroad.
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