Engram
An engram is the trace a memory leaves behind. Each of these is a fine-art print of one of my original paintings — a numbered limited edition of 100, printed on archival paper. Dimensions shown are of the print.
SIMP 0136 is a giant celestial body 20 light years from earth. I learnt about SIMP 0136, and it stirred in me a theme of rogueness; one of a burning desire to be free. SIMP 0136 does not revolve around a star. It's neither a star nor a planet. It belongs to no pre-existing labels. It made me reflect on the experiences of forging a non-existent path, facing deep dark uncertainty undauntedly, seeking more from life till the fiery light still glows within. In this work, I express my experience of becoming my own person. I agonized for weeks trying to find a form to express what I felt, and almost gave up on it. And then it came to me. Inexplicably.
I learnt of this subject through a six-year-old boy who is special to me. I dedicate this work to him.
I painted as I grieved. I watched their lifeless body and felt my fear of death fading. I felt the value of my life more intensely than ever. I felt angry for the departed.
This was my first painting done entirely on location. This beautiful building in Bangalore is hidden like a pearl. The long old colonial windows, the arch and the beautiful shadows that the sun creates during clear days is hard to ignore. This painting is also one of those pieces where I experimented with loose brush strokes which could highlight the architecture in this composition.
I found this dragonfly lying in the corner of my corridor, glowing gold and turquoise. It was only when I came close that I realized she wasn't moving. In awe of her, I brought her home. I learnt about dragonflies, and their evolution from dark damp swamps to world travellers. Their long existence on earth, from even before dinosaurs. In this work I express my awe for the dragonfly's beauty, eternal endurance, and its conquest of time and space in this painting. The dragonfly came into my life as I was contemplating that “small” or “big” perhaps is not measured by size but by one's beliefs in their dreams.
This was my first painting done from life. I arranged the entire stage and painted it in oils. I'm very proud of this work. I enjoyed the entire experience from arrangement until the last stroke on the canvas.
This subject is my study of textures in watercolour. Ostensibly simple, it has many surfaces which reflect light differently. I painted this keeping it in direct light in order to capture it before the light changed. After painting from life it became a challenge for me to paint from photographs which appear flat on a 2 dimensional plane with light flattened out in the frame.
This painting was done from life. I always wanted to paint this subject because of its rich and deep colour. This is my only painting till date where I use warm shadows in the background against a warm subject in the foreground.
This is a work I hid in my closet. The day I learnt that perfectionism is the voice of an oppressor, I brought it into the light.
I was born in Allahabad. I have crossed this street several times. Every time I felt amazed by the beauty of this mosque standing out in the chaos of this old town. It is a crowded and bustling area but something about the mosque's beauty drew me. I feared that one day this town will have new buildings and the charm and bustle of the old city will be no more. This work is my attempt to capture the beautiful mosque, the old buildings next to it, the bustle, the haphazard electric poles with wires and the cycles and rickshaw. I wanted to show the world what I felt and saw here. My notebooks are filled with half done sketches of this painting.
My first painting made outdoors, in front of the subject. The play of light and shadow stopped me. I am a great admirer of architecture, and the red stone wall simply felt right where it was. I had to stop and paint it.
This is a plein air painting, which was completed later in the studio. I left the light the way it was falling on the lake and on the green railing. This painting captures fond memories I shared with my artist friends when we painted outdoors.
I found her lying in the corner of my corridor, glowing gold and turquoise. It was only when I came close that I realised she wasn't moving. In awe of her, I brought her home. Dragonflies are a symbol of rebirth and new beginnings, and she gave me both — she is the reason I began painting again. She has a definite part in who I am today.
One summer day, I spent an afternoon waiting for the temple to open. The people sitting on the street, the vendors passing by. The urge to capture this scene struck me. It all inspired me to paint this scene. The urge remains inexplicable in words.
This is a sunset that I could not ignore. In 2025, it was happening almost every day. Visible from my balcony. One day, I painted it from my memory. It is an unforgettable image.
I find as much beauty in dried and withered flowers as in blooming ones. Painting them feels like paying my respects — to living things that go on giving beauty long after they are gone. I collected these from my own garden. It began as a study, an experiment in holding loose and tight brushwork on the same sheet. I ended up loving both.
It was a day of high winds. The clouds were moving around, shapeshifting. I had to capture the wind and show it to you.
This painting is a view of the Bangalore sky through my eyes. I made it one day when my eyes were hooked on this particular frame. I sat right there and started painting it. It was a deeply satisfying experience for me.
This was half done on the location and completed later at the studio. During my walks, the evening light of the lake mesmerised me. I had to capture that. I got the opportunity one day. And I'm very grateful for that.
It was a grey day. I waited for that little blue to come up, and when it showed up it was my moment to capture and share it with you.
This is a monochrome version of SIMP 0136. It was done in charcoal. Patrons who have experienced both versions have been torn between which one they like more. What is your pick?