Nilaya Anthology in Mumbai will present Across the Line, its first design residency exhibition, from 9 October 2026 onwards. Conceived and curated by designer and cultural entrepreneur Aku Zeliang, the exhibition brings together eight collaborative design pairings from India and across South Asia. Through a shared process of exchange, the participating designers have created collectible objects that examine how culture, material traditions and local knowledge are carried through design.
A Residency Built Around Exchange
According to the organisers, Across the Line was developed around a central question: how do cultural practices become embedded within objects? Rather than working within a common material or aesthetic language, the participating makers were encouraged to explore shared histories, inherited knowledge and contemporary interpretations of craft traditions.
The residency focused on three key ideas culture, collaboration and provenance. Each designer brought elements from their own background while engaging with a collaborator from another region, resulting in works that reflect multiple perspectives and production processes.
Curator Aku Zeliang’s Approach
The exhibition is curated by Aku Zeliang, a Nagaland-based designer known for his work connecting indigenous craft traditions with contemporary design practice. As Creative Director of Heirloom Naga Centre and founder of Urra Design, Zeliang has worked extensively with artisan communities while promoting regional craftsmanship through collaborative projects.
In Across the Line, Zeliang sought to bring together practitioners who are investigating similar questions about heritage and identity from different cultural contexts. The residency examines how these conversations can be translated into physical objects while retaining their distinct histories.
Eight Collaborative Projects
The exhibition features eight partnerships spanning India, the Philippines, Indonesia and Thailand. Each project draws on shared cultural references, materials or craft practices.
Featured collaborations include:
- Deco Passage by Vaishnavi Walvekar and Clark Mendoza, inspired by Art Deco architecture in Mumbai and the Philippines.
- Entwine by Abdullah Ansari and Cyrus Dan Cañares, exploring wool as a structural material.
- Brass Fields by Namit Khanna and Owen Pradipta Golim, drawing from Indonesia’s terraced rice landscapes.
- Between Two Blooms, Shared Blooms and Tower of Blooms by Nynika Jhaveri and Achariyar Rojanapirom, combining ritual vessel traditions from India and Thailand.
- Rakshak Gabay by Rhea Mehta and Chini Lichangco, informed by protective mask traditions from India and the Philippines.
- Sky and Earth in Conversation by Punit Jain, Srishti Agarwal and Zulyo Kumara, inspired by the shared mythology of Garuda and Naga.
- Parabula Ng Makta (Parables of Matka) by Aku Zeliang and Allyza Tresvalles.
- Pravāla by Kush Bhayani and Bianca Carague, examining coral ecosystems and environmental change.
Materials, Craft and Provenance
A notable aspect of the exhibition is its emphasis on production histories. The works were created through collaborations with artisans and manufacturing communities in locations including Moradabad, Bhadohi, Surat, Nagaland, Mumbai, New Delhi and Chiang Mai.
Materials used across the collection include:
- Brass
- Stainless steel
- Capiz shell
- Wool
- Cane
- Wood
- Bronze
- Aluminium
- Copper
- Glass and enamel
The exhibition highlights how workshops, factories and artisan communities shape the final form of an object, making provenance a central component of the design process.
About Nilaya Anthology
Presented by Nilaya Anthology, the exhibition forms part of the institution’s wider cultural programme. Established by Asian Paints, Nilaya Anthology spans approximately 100,000 square feet in Mumbai’s historic mill district and brings together international and Indian brands, collectible craft and design-led experiences. The venue has positioned itself as a destination for design enthusiasts, architects and collectors interested in contemporary material culture.
Visitor Information
| Field | Details |
|---|---|
| Event Name | Across the Line |
| Curator | Aku Zeliang |
| Presented By | Nilaya Anthology |
| Venue | Nilaya Anthology, Peninsula Corporate Park, Peninsula Point, Senapati Bapat Marg, Lower Parel West, Mumbai |
| Exhibition Dates | From 9 October 2026 onwards |
| Participating Designers | Eight collaborative pairings from India, Thailand, Indonesia and the Philippines |
| Entry / Tickets | Not specified |
| Website | https://www.nilayaanthology.com/ |
Takeaway
Through collaborations that cross geographic and cultural boundaries, Across the Line explores how design can serve as a carrier of memory, identity and shared knowledge. By bringing together makers from different traditions, the exhibition highlights the role of dialogue in contemporary craft practice while drawing attention to the communities, materials and processes that make creative production possible. In doing so, it offers visitors an opportunity to consider design not only as an object, but also as a record of cultural exchange across South Asia.
