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sā, meaning soil in the Ladakhi language, is the foundation of sā Ladakh Biennale, the world's highest biennale above 3000m rooted in regeneration,
focusing on the themes of climate, culture and community.
Through art, research and shared experiences, sā explores relationships between people, culture and ecology in Ladakh. We are learning what it means to participate in processes of renewal, and what these encounters change within us, between us and beyond us.
sā Journey
What began as two consecutive years of land art experiences in 2023 and 2024 grew into the inaugural sā Ladakh Biennale in 2026. Across these journeys, artistic practice has become a way to listen, experiment, exchange knowledge and reflect on our responsibilities to place and one another.
2023
At the first edition of sā, in August 2023, artists from all over Ladakh, wider India and the world came together to engage with the serene, fragile and vast Ladakhi landscape at Disko Valley Bike Park. Follow the link below to find out more about the selected artists and their artworks.
Skarma’s work explores melting glaciers and their impact on Ladakh’s water supply. Using recycled materials, he reflects on the challenges posed by climate change in high-altitude regions.
Anshu exposes the exploitation of artisans and environmental degradation in the fast fashion industry. Her work, made from recycled sarees, highlights the human and ecological costs of consumerism.
Małgorzata combines performance, poetry, and sound to explore ecology, community, and storytelling. Her work reflects the land of Ladakh through an audio piece available via QR code.
Skarma’s work explores melting glaciers and their impact on Ladakh’s water supply. Using recycled materials, he reflects on the challenges posed by climate change in high-altitude regions.
2024
For sā edition two in 2024, 1 to 10 June, we invited artists through an Open Call for “The Future of Immersive Land Art / Immersive Land Art and the Future”. The edition witnessed renewed and enhanced selection of site-specific art installations, sculptures and immersive audio-visual performances.
‘Into the Pinke’ is an immersive performance with 50 students from Mahabodhi Residential School, Leh. It explores the intrinsic relationship between land and its inhabitants, blending traditional and contemporary ways of communication. Supported by the German Embassy and Local Futures, it enhances transboundary dialogue on nature and community.
‘Glacier’s Retreat’ focuses on the retreat of glaciers in Ladakh due to climate change. The artwork highlights the noticeable and alarming changes in the landscape, symbolizing the fragility of nature. Made from scrap wood and iron rods, the installation will remain at DiskoValley Bike Park for six months before being collected.
‘How does home feel?’ challenges viewers to rethink their relationship with their homes and nature, exploring indigenous building materials and practices. Through art, science, and sustainability, the installation invites reflection on connectedness with the environment. The space can be used by the bike park and will naturally decompose over time.
‘Into the Pinke’ is an immersive performance with 50 students from Mahabodhi Residential School, Leh. It explores the intrinsic relationship between land and its inhabitants, blending traditional and contemporary ways of communication. Supported by the German Embassy and Local Futures, it enhances transboundary dialogue on nature and community.
Beyond the Biennale
Utilising art as a regenerative tool through long-term programmes to support cultural continuity, enabling knowledge exchange, and fostering resilient systems that respond to social and environmental challenges over time.
sā Unlearning
Rethinking through hands-on learning, connecting materials, and communities to foster ecological awareness through adaptations in everyday education.
Circular Lives
A community-rooted initiative with people with disabilities that reimagines accessibility and dignity through co-creative practices.
Health and Altitude Advisory
Please travel mindfully, with care for both people and place. Visiting Ladakh and the Biennale is undertaken at your own risk, particularly given the high-altitude environment.
Acclimatisation is essential, not optional.
Please spend at least 48 hours at your first destination in Ladakh before travelling to higher elevations, and consult your doctor before your journey if you have any pre-existing or ongoing medical conditions.