Filmmaker and artist Doug Aitken will have his first exhibition in Mumbai, India, on December 6th.
Titled “Under The Sun“, the exhibition will be held at the Nita Mukesh Ambani Cultural Centre (NMACC), Mumbai. For the exhibition, his first in India, Aitken is building an installation specifically for the venue. The work is being built in collaboration with Indian artists, curated by Roya Sachs and Mafalda Kahane, produced by Elizabeth Edelman (partner at creative house TRIADIC), and fully commissioned by NMACC.
“Under The Sun” would act like a fusion of Western sensibilities, represented by Aitken, and traditional Indian craft. It will employ a range of Indian art techniques, from hand-worked wooden artifacts to embroidered textiles. The entire installation will be a sensory experience, complete with light and sound, and divided into sections of past, present, and future (with each section occupying a different floor). Aitken’s film NEW ERA (2018) will also be screened as part of the exhibition.
Speaking about the installation, Doug Aitken said: “’UNDER THE SUN’ creates a bridge between Indian and Western cultures—a dialogue across time and material. It’s a kind of modern mythology—a landscape of artworks that question where we’re going and reflect on where we’ve been. The pieces are hypnotic and exploratory—they shift between the organic and the virtual. Each floor has its own pulse: the physicality of natural materials, moving-image representation, and pure energy in motion.”
The NMACC, launched in 2023, has emerged as a premier cultural centre of India within a short span. It has previously collaborated with Dia Art Foundation, Toiletpaper, and numerous international artists. Isha Ambani, daughter of Mukesh Ambani, made the official announcement of the collaboration. Opening on December 6th, “Under the Sun” will remain on exhibition till February 22, 2026.
