An art exhibition titled “Nagaland: Voices from Northeast India”, collaboratively organised by the Staatliche Museen zu Berlin, the Humboldt Forum and the Berlin Botanical Museum was opened at the Humboldt Forum, Berlin on Friday.
The Humboldt Forum stated that all over the world, minorities were fighting for cultural self-determination or political autonomy, and one such minority were the Nagas–an umbrella term for more than thirty different tribal groups which, despite many similarities, differ in their culture, language and in the way they see themselves.
Since the end of British colonial rule, the Nagas have been fighting for autonomy from mainland India and for cultural self-determination. It was only during this period that the desire for a common identity emerged, Humboldt Forum stated.
The art exhibition looks at different aspects of contemporary Naga society and its cultural identity while bringing together the historical Naga collection of the Ethnologisches Museum with contemporary photography, fashion and visual arts from the region.
Naga artist, Zubeni Lotha is part of the interdisciplinary curatorial team behind this collaborative exhibition organised by the Staatliche Museen zu Berlin, the Humboldt Forum and Berlin Botanical Museum and critically examines the constructed image of Nagas in historical Western photography.
“I will not weep”, a new sound installation by Naga artist Senti Toy Threadgill in the Humboldt Forum’s listening room also reflects the contemporary Nagaland, its colonial past and current political situation.
Tuesday, February 24, 2026