Originally designed for the Jaquar Pavilion Park, it was shortlisted with 9 other pavilions from 75 entries for an international competition. Pentad will be the only pavilion amongst these to be exhibited at India Art Fair as a part of its Outdoor Art Projects.
Pentad takes inspiration from the new Indian parliament, one of almost one hundred UN member states that have explored their post-colonial identity through a rebalancing of colour, materiality, symbolism, and tradition. The pavilion and the parliament will stand a mere ten kilometres apart for the duration of India Art Fair, bridging the gap between play and politics.
The brief encouraged designers to explore new social relations through a spatial lens and explore the ties between movement, form and event. For the design team at UHA, led by Joseph R. Goodwin, the first exploration was into spaces of congregation and assembly, and to understand what their functions are today. The pavilion is about observation, connection, and belonging. It is an experiment in what effect wrapping, overlapping, or stacking five modes of meeting could have.
A hidden system of talk tubes is woven through the structure of the pavilion. These vivid tubes invite visitors to listen and to participate, to eavesdrop and interrupt. Pentad casts visitors as both actors and audience, allowing them to constantly shift between power and play. The pavilion invites onlookers to step inside, try out the talk tubes and choose their favourite form of assembly, and above all, become a participant!
Pentad is on the road, reinforcing its own identity while assimilating with the festivals and projects it becomes a part of. With plans for future displays in February underway, the pavilion is delivering on its afterlife ambitions.
The fair will be open from 5th to 8th February 2026 at NSIC Exhibition Grounds, Okhla, New Delhi.
Tickets are on sale on India Art Fair’s website.
