For the first time, India will have a pavilion at the Venice Biennale, with the support of its Ministry of Culture and the Lalit Kala Akademi. The pavilion is curated by Ranjit Hoskote who has selected Zarina Hashmi, a printmaker and sculptor, Gigi Scaria, a painter and video artist, Praneet Soi, a mixed-media artist, and The Desire Machine Collective, made up of the husband-and-wife team Mriganka Madhukaillya and Sonal Jain. The pavilion's theme is "Everyone Agrees: It's About to Explode."

The 54th International Art Exhibition, entitled ILLUMInazioni – ILLUMInations, is directed by Bice Curiger and organized by la Biennale di Venezia under the presidency of Paolo Baratta. 89 national participations are on this year's programme.

The biennale will be open on Friday, June 3rd, and will be accessible to the public from Saturday, June 4th to November 27th 2011 in the Giardini and the Arsenale. A preview will take place on June 1st, 2nd and 3rd, 2011.