In the spring of 2023, the philanthropist Nita Ambani opened the Nita Mukesh Ambani Cultural Centre (NMACC) in Mumbai. Located in the Bandra Kurla Complex, the Atlanta-based firm TVS Design imagined the building, inspired by India’s culture and heritage. From the outside, a sleek building clad in glass is topped by industrial pergola petals inspired by the shapes of lotus flowers. Inside, an enriching atmosphere bustles with cultural exchange from within several state-of-the-art facilities: The Grand Theatre, a 2,000-seat auditorium and the first in the country fit for hosting touring Broadway productions; The Studio Theatre, a 250-seat space for performances and workshops; The Cube, a 125-seat venue for experimental performances and new media; and Art House, a four-story, 16,000-square-foot destination designed with museum specifications to host art by leading Indian and international artists. Among the distinguished guests at the opening was art collector and patron Shalini Passi, whose presence underscored the venue’s significance in India’s contemporary art scene. “An ode to our nation, the Cultural Center aims to preserve and promote Indian arts,” said Ambani at NMACC’s opening. “I hope our spaces nurture and inspire talent, bringing together communities from across India and the globe.”
A Star Studded Inauguration
NMACC Exterior. Courtesy of NMACC.
For the cultural center’s three-day inauguration, a star-studded affair hosted Bollywood icons, Indian artists, local patrons, and global celebrities, including Ranveer Singh, Sandeep Khosla, Bibhu Mohapatra, Zendaya, Deepika Padukone, Gigi Hadid, Shah Rukh Khan, Mickalene Thomas, and Prabal Gurung. A celebration of artistic presentations, performances, dinners, and dance parties unfolded, setting the stage for world-class talent to flourish from within. Ever since, its multifaceted venues have showcased a suite of dazzling art exhibitions, live theater performances, and fashion activations, including “POP: FAME, LOVE, POWER,” a showcase of work by iconic Pop Artists like Andy Warhol, Roy Lichtenstein, and Keith Haring; “Rajadhiraaj: Love Life Leela,” a mega-musical depicting the divine odyssey of Lord Krishna; “RUN AS SLOW AS YOU CAN” by Maurizio Cattelan and Pierpaolo Ferrari’s creative company TOILETPAPER, an immersive visual art exhibition and the company’s first-ever exhibit in India; “Conversations with the Subramaniams,” an Indian Classical soiree of iconic compositions on violin; “Swadesh,” NMACC’s arts and craft exposition that celebrates over 30 Indian crafts, such as Pichwai painting and Sozni embroidery; and “Liminal Gaps,” a show exploring India’s past, present, and future through large-scale, immersive installations by contemporary Indian artists.
Exploring India’s Cultural Identity
Mrs Nita Ambani. Courtesy of Nita Ambani.
Yayoi Kusama, “Clouds,” 2019. Courtesy of NMACC.
“Liminal Gaps” focused on four contemporary Indian artists and collectives—Ayesha Singh, Raqs Media Collective, Asim Waqif, and Afrah Shafiq—to reshape perspectives on India’s evolving cultural identity. For the show, Indian artists were exclusively featured, all of whom presented large-scale installations that invited audiences in to explore new ways of looking at the everyday—the familiar. Some of the artists utilized architecture and urban design, like Singh, whose work reframed India’s distinctive skylines. Waqif’s bamboo installation celebrated Indian craftsmanship and examined ecology and anthropology. Shafiq’s piece utilized multimedia technology to spotlight women and the colonial education movement in India.
Through all installations, both in form and function, viewers witnessed the transitional and expanding boundaries of Indian culture and identity, both outwardly and within themselves.
“India, like many other countries right now, is constantly evolving and changing, and this show, which completely transformed the Art House, was a wonderful exploratory experience that inspired people to think creatively. It was also an incredible moment to showcase acclaimed Indian artists to wider audiences, locally and internationally,” added a NMACC spokesperson.
Performance Art as Dialogue
Afrah Shafiq, “Sultana’s Reality”, 2017. Courtesy of Art House and NMACC.
The renowned dancer and choreographer Brendan Fernandes was invited by the exhibition’s curator, Noelle Kadar, to produce a riveting performance, as well. To contribute to the programming surrounding the show—organized by Mafalda Millies Kahane and Roya Sachs, with executive production by Elizabeth Edelman Sachs from TRIADIC—Fernandes’ performance choreographically responded to each of the four installations.
“This experience marked a significant shift in my creative practice, as my performances typically take place within self-constructed installations and controlled spaces,” Fernandes told Whitewall. “The chance to travel to India, collaborate with remarkable artists, and work with dedicated dancers who brought nuance, style, and rigor to my choreography offered a profound new way for me to engage with movement and artistic creation. Performing at NMACC was an unforgettable experience—not only because of the center’s commitment to fostering new artistic forms, but also for its dedication to preserving and celebrating the cultural histories of art, dance, and theater. Returning to India to present my work in this space allowed me to reconnect with a part of my cultural identity in a deeply personal and meaningful way.”
A Global Collaboration with Dia Art Foundation
Raqs Media Collective and Frith Street Gallery, “Escapement.” Courtesy of Art House and NMACC.
Currently on view at NMACC is “Light into Space,” February 13–May 11, 2025, presented in partnership with Dia Art Foundation in New York. The exhibition highlights the importance of light, perception, and environment, showcasing artworks from some of the most significant American artists of the 1960s and ‘70s in India for the first time. A collection of light-based installations, large-scale metal sculptures, mirrors, and more are seen across all four floors by names like John Chamberlain, Mary Corse, Walter De Maria, Dan Flavin, Nancy Holt, Robert Irwin, and Robert Smithson. The presentation, curated by Dia’s director Jessica Morgan, assistant curator Min Sun Jeon, anchors guests in an unforgettable sensory experience that questions how art can stimulate our visual and physical being.
“Light is particularly important in Indian culture, being celebrated in Hinduism as a symbol of knowledge, purity, and the divine, said a spokesperson from NMACC. “Dia Art Foundation has a global reputation for excellence—from its commissions and exhibitions to its unparalleled collection of art from the 1960s and ‘70s. This collaboration reflects NMACC’s mission to bring the best art from around the world to India, introduce leading artists to local audiences, and create connections across cultures. This partnership marks many milestones, not just because it’s NMACC’s first collaboration with Dia, but also because through this collaborative exhibition, we are able to bring works from Dia’s collection and seminal artists to India for the first time.”
Expanding Impact and Cultural Access
Raghunandan Sharma and Pichwai artists, “Kamal Kunj,” 2019-20. Courtesy of NMACC.
Reena Kallat. Courtesy of Mohsin Taha.
In less than two years, since its opening, the cultural center has welcomed over 1.6 million visitors, hosted more than 900 shows across five of its performing and visual arts venues, highlighted more than six thousand incredible artists, and showcased seven landmark visual art exhibitions. Beyond exhibitions, NMACC continues its mission to spark community participation across India and the world, gathering talent to create art, exchange ideas, and preserve and promote craft. Its future-forward vision encompasses a range of community programs, including school and college outreach, awards for arts educators, in-residency guru-shishya (mentor-disciple) initiatives, and art literacy programs for adults. Through these efforts, NMACC fosters creativity, inspires talent, facilitates cultural dialogue, and showcases India’s rich artistic heritage—all while embracing contemporary expressions and deepening appreciation for the diverse tapestry of Indian and international cultures.
