Statement

I paint to remember, process, and reconnect with places I’ve left behind and with evolving parts of myself. My work draws on the textures and colors of my childhood in Chhattisgarh, where mud walls, monsoon skies, tribal tattoos, and Hindi film songs shaped my early years. These memories stay vivid, not as fixed images but as living forms that shape how I see the world.

I work with oils and acrylics as a figurative painter, and I usually begin with a feeling rather than a fixed idea. My paintings develop on their own, often embracing imbalance and imperfection. I am especially interested in painting solitary figures with quiet, thoughtful expressions—people who seem to be in between places, thoughts, or times. These figures often reflect my own experiences with migration, displacement, and searching for a sense of belonging.

Living in Finland has given me time to pause and reflect. The quiet, slow pace and gentle nature of the Nordic landscape influence the mood of my work, adding calm, introspection, and sometimes a sense of melancholy. Ongoing health challenges and a connective tissue disorder have changed the way I create. I now use smaller canvases, work with greater urgency, and have increased physical awareness. These limitations are now a key part of my process, shaping both the look and the meaning of each piece.

With my art, I aim to explore contrasts such as nostalgia and change, strength and fragility, and solitude and connection. I paint to keep my stories alive and to invite a quiet conversation with others.