Waiting at airports can get monotonous but is inevitable before boarding our flights. Not at the Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport (CSMIA) Terminal 2 in Mumbai anymore. Enriching your journey with some invigorating moments is its sprawling cultural exhibition – ‘The ArtBeat of New India’ museum. Meticulously curated to beat the conventional airport experience of yore, the museum spans across Terminal 2 as an integral part of the passenger journey.
Stretching across a remarkable 3.2 km corridor and covering over 200,000 square feet, the museum features over 5,500 artefacts and 100+ art installations celebrating India’s heritage, innovation, and identity.
Here's a glimpse of some of the must-see art installations at Terminal 2:
1. Theatrical Screening – Maharashtra
A tribute to hand-painted theatre screens once seen across Maharashtra, this evocative montage captures a fading art form that once graced drama stages and photography studios.
2. Celestial Realm – Kerala
Inspired by Kerala’s mural traditions, this dreamlike skyscape is adorned with celestial beings, offering a contemplative encounter with the divine.
3. Evoking the Nagas – Nagaland
Intricately carved doors, symbolic totems, and traditional textiles honour the tribal richness of Nagaland in a powerful visual narrative.
4. Best out of Waste – Mumbai
Sustainability meets creativity in this Mumbai-inspired installation that transforms discarded materials into striking, thought-provoking art pieces.
5. Conjoining Lands – Kashmir
A symbolic confluence of cultures, this imaginative landscape draws from Kashmiri craftsmanship to reflect unity beyond borders.
6. Gopuram – Gods and Goddesses – Pondicherry
Echoing South Indian temple architecture, hand-carved deities and vibrant life-size cut-outs celebrate the sacred and the mundane in divine form.
7. Reappearances Below the Tarmac – Rajasthan
A fantastical aerial view of Mumbai sculpted in terracotta, interspersed with whimsical flying machines and portraits inspired by royal Rajasthan.
8. Atelier of Ephemera – West Bengal
An ode to anonymous artisans of Bengal, this vibrant installation celebrates ephemeral crafts surrounding Goddess Durga—from idol-making to modern light artistry.
9. Tribute to Indian Maritime History
A bas-relief sculpture inspired by ancient Buddhist carvings pays homage to India’s seafaring legacy, highlighting trade, exchange, and cultural voyages.
10. Flying Locomotives – Gond, Madhya Pradesh
Drawing from Gond folklore, flying creatures and vehicles soar through the terminal in sculptural steel, embodying motion and imagination.
11. Cheel Gadi Haveli – Rajasthan
Set in a Shekhawati-style facade, this installation brings India’s historic modes of transport to life with visual trickery and miniature-style art.
12. Moving Constant – Mysore & Tanjore
A fusion of Mysore and Tanjore painting traditions, this piece honours divine vahanas—vehicles of the gods—as metaphors for spiritual movement.
13. The Guardian Angels of India
A striking parade of iconic Indian figures, depicted within a Rajasthani architectural backdrop, it celebrates those who shaped the nation’s cultural soul.
In a world where airports are often rushed and clinical, CSMIA dares to be different—inviting travellers to relax and engage with something deeper and closer to India’s cultural roots. With every corridor turned into a gallery and every waiting moment transformed into an artistic encounter, CSMIA ensures that every journey begins and ends with a tribute to India’s cultural legacy. At CSMIA, every takeoff begins with a touch of timeless India.