Roots and Roofs

Roots and Roofs

48×48”

Acrylic on Canvas

About The Artist

As an art student , I find myself constantly drawn to the themes of connection and

duality. Growing up in Uttarakhand, I was deeply connected with nature, and this

influence became a core part of my creative expression. However, moving to Delhi

shifted my environment dramatically, disconnecting me from the natural landscapes I

cherished. In response, I began to channel my longing for that connection through

sketches of mountain landscapes.

Gradually, I found myself drawn to painting monkeys—a subject that has become

central to my work.

I paint monkeys because I see in them a raw, unfiltered expression of emotions that

humans often suppress or conceal.

To me, monkeys are not mere creatures of chaos, as many perceive them, but vibrant

symbols of unfiltered life. Their mischief is not destruction—it is the pure,

unselfconscious joy of a child lost in play, unaware of judgment or consequence. In their

wild energy, I see a reflection of my own once-unbridled spirit, now tempered by time

and the weight of a lingering melancholy.

Yet, my work is also deeply personal. As I navigate a period of my life shadowed by the

big black clouds, I paint these jolly, playful monkeys as a form of longing—a desire to

reconnect with the lightness and freedom they represent. They are not just subjects;

they are self-portraits, self-reflections, and even aspirational figures. Through them, I

explore the tension between the joy I wish to embody and the heaviness I often feel.

Through their animated forms, I invite viewers to question what lies beneath surface

perceptions. Just as monkeys are dismissed as disruptive, humans, too, are quick to

cloak their vulnerabilities behind labels. My art seeks to unearth the raw, childlike

authenticity we often hide—the parts of us that ache to leap, laugh, and live without

apology.

In creating these scenes, I am not just painting monkeys. I am tracing the contours of

my own heart, finding solace in their imagined freedom, and whispering a hope: that

even in darkness, the memory of light can guide us back to play