A first look by Sir David Adjaye at the KNMA museum.
On May 20, 2023, the Kiran Nadar Museum The renowned Ghanaian British architect designed the KNMA (Kenny National Museum of Art). Sir David Adjaye in collaboration with S. Ghosh & Associates, will unveil an architectural model of its upcoming building, set to open in Delhi in 2026 and serve as India’s largest cultural center. The preview will be held during the 18th International Architecture Exhibition of La Biennale di Venezia curated by Lesley Lokko.
An installation showcasing the model will be presented as part of the Curator’s Special Projects, to coincide with the groundbreaking ceremony for the new museum in New Delhi. The exhibition, titled ‘Mnemonic,’ explores the theme through artworks from the museum’s collection by prominent Indian artists Tyeb Mehta (1925-2009), Zarina (1937-2020), and Nasreen Mohamedi (1937-1990). Additionally, contemporary filmmaker Amit Dutta’s film, ‘Touch AIR (2023),’ will accompany the presentation.
Model of the new KNMA. Images courtesy David Adjaye Associates & KNMA.| all images courtesy of David Adjaye Associates and KNMA, unless stated otherwise
Kiran Nadar Museum of Art
Founded in 2010 by Kiran Nadar, one of India’s prominent art collectors, KNMA stands as a pioneering private museum dedicated to exhibiting modern and contemporary artworks from India and the subcontinent. With a collection of over 10,000 pieces, the museum draws inspiration from the region’s rich cultural history. The new KNMA facility, which will cover 100,000 sqm, is located near the Indira Ghandi International Airport in Delhi and will be an international cultural hub for visual arts as well as music, dance, theatre, and more. This new location will allow the museum to show a larger part of its collection, including permanent displays, ever-changing shows, and captivating performances. Currently situated in New Delhi and Noida, the expansion to a larger, state-of-the-art facility signifies KNMA’s commitment to becoming a premier global hub for artistic expression.
‘KNMA provides an opportunity to embolden the rise of contemporary Indian art, releasing a new cultural offering for both the people of India, as well as for the wider global arts landscape. Its location in Delhi–one of the oldest cities in the world with a lineage of habitation that stretches to the 6th century BCE–gives new context to its position as a dynamic, living cultural force. As such, its specific location within the city directly influences the new building’s form, rhythm and landscape.’ Sir David Adjaye shares (find out more) here)
This new venue will be home to both permanent and changing exhibitions
Communication the richness of Indian creativity
KNMA’s installation in the Arsenale explores the intricate relationship between memory and the museum, specifically referencing the Partition of India and Pakistan in 1947, which shattered a unified sense of place and identity. Tyeb Mehta was a post-colonial Indian artist of the first generation who used diagonal lines to convey the pain of the Partition and its historical significance. Within the installation, three images from the KNMA collection are featured: ‘Untitled (Woman on Rickshaw)’ from 1994, ‘Mahishasura’ from 1994, and ‘Kali’ from 1997. Zarina is a renowned artist for her geometric abstracts in sculptures and prints, as well text-based work. She explores themes such as home, memory and displacement. Additionally, contemporary filmmaker Amit Dutta draws inspiration from Nasreen Mohamedi’s personal writings and distinct singular vision. Mohamedi, a modernist artist interested in architectural forms, used a minimalistic monochrome style, using only lines on paper and graphite or ink.
‘Our presentation at the Biennale Architettura 2023 communicates the rich creativity of India. Venice’s display spans subcontinental histories and highlights how KNMA’s newly constructed space will be a place of cultural discovery and diverse conversation. At the heart of KNMA is the notion of giving back to society, preserving treasures of the cultural past and nurturing a young generation of creative practitioners and thinkers, while bridging the gap between art and the public.’ comments Kiran Nadar, Founder and Chairperson of KNMA (find more here).
the expansion to a larger, state-of-the-art facility signifies KNMA’s commitment to becoming a premier global hub for artistic expression
The exterior is marked by geometric patterns and perforated forms
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Kali by Tyeb Mehta. Image courtesy Tyeb Mehta| image courtesy of Tyeb Mehta
Falling Bird | image courtesy of Tyeb Mehta
Mahishasura, by Tyeb Mehta. Image courtesy of Tyeb Mehta| image courtesy of Tyeb Mehta
image courtesy of Tyeb Mehta| image courtesy of Tyeb Mehta
image courtesy of Amit Dutta| image courtesy of Amit Dutta
image courtesy of Amit Dutta| image courtesy of Amit Dutta
image courtesy of Amit Dutta| image courtesy of Amit Dutta
image courtesy of Amit Dutta| image courtesy of Amit Dutta
Project info
name: Kiran Nadar Museum of Art (KNMA) New building
architect: Sir David Adjaye In collaboration with S. Ghosh & Associates
location: Delhi, India
Myrto Katsikopoulou I designboom
May 17, 2023
