Delhi — Max Estates Limited is presenting FOREST II, a living forest installation by artist Raki Nikahetiya, at the India Art Fair 2026, which opened today in New Delhi.
Commissioned by Max Estates, FOREST II is conceived as a regenerative installation rather than a temporary exhibition structure. The work takes the form of a walled forest designed to continue growing beyond the duration of the fair, reflecting an approach that emphasizes longevity and environmental responsibility in exhibition-making.
The installation functions as a Miyawaki-inspired pocket forest and comprises more than 200 native and endangered plant species adapted to the Delhi-NCR region’s semi-arid climate. Dense, multi-layered planting supports biodiversity within a compact footprint. The enclosure has been constructed using approximately ten tonnes of reclaimed metal sourced from Max Estates’ construction sites. Within the structure, a combination of canopy, understory, and groundcover species is intended to improve soil health and create habitat for birds, butterflies, and other pollinators.
Saumya Saxena, head of design at Max Estates, said the installation reflects the company’s focus on creating long-lasting and environmentally responsible spaces. Nikahetiya described FOREST II as a process rather than an object, highlighting care, time, and coexistence as central to the work.
Visitors enter the installation through an opening in a four-meter-high wall, stepping into a shaded, immersive environment that includes an audio component experienced through headphones. The installation is designed to be experienced as an environment rather than viewed as a standalone object.
After the fair concludes, the forest will be relocated to one of Max Estates’ developments, where it is intended to continue growing as a permanent landscape element. FOREST II is on view from Feb. 5 to Feb. 8, 2026, at NSIC Grounds in New Delhi.
