Blue Scaffold in the Zbayul

Hand painted poplar wood, 30’x35’x18’, 2026

Signals From Another Star, sā Ladakh Biennale 2026, Leh-Kargil corridor, India

As part of my ongoing “Scaffold Series”, Blue Scaffolds in the Zbayul was created for the inaugural sā Ladakh Biennale in the remote village of Henasku, at 11,640 feet above sea level. For the first time in the series, I moved away from the metal scaffolding used in earlier works, working instead with locally sourced poplar wood in keeping with the biennale’s commitment to regeneration and place.

The vivid blue structure emerged as an unexpected gesture against the stark Himalayan landscape, its intense color set against the muted browns and ochres of the mountains. Working with local builders, climbers, and villagers, the scaffold took shape through an exchange of materials, knowledge, and movement, becoming not simply a structure within the landscape but a temporary space for gathering, looking, and encounter.

PRESS
Avantika Bawa at the sā Ladakh Biennial, Oregon Arts Watch
14 artworks I saw and loved at the sā Ladakh Biennale 2026, Vogue India
Postcard from the Himalayas, Financial Times