Artistic inspiration exists on a continuum, and the works of Vishakha Hardikar and Salonika M Aggarwal represent the opposite ends of that spectrum.

While Vishakha’s artistic praxis is largely informed by her immersion within the spheres of family and community, Salonika is driven primarily through an escape from the human world, into the peaceful abode of nature. Vishakha’s inclination towards everyday chaos and the intricacies of human relationships contrasts with Salonika’s affinity for the tranquillity of untouched, pristine environments.

For Vishakha, memory is a muse. She takes us through scenes intimately familiar, allowing the viewer to journey through versions of a life we all may have lived. Thus, her tableaux are not mere reconstructions of her own roots, but instead represent a collective remembrance of a life built upon moments of humour, mischief, and earnest belonging.

For Salonika, inspiration abounds in stepping away from the Anthropocene to illuminate the vast world that exists beyond our human-centric lives. Salonika paints rich tapestries where flora and fauna are the protagonists. Her work blooms with vibrancy and sensuality, presenting stories that exist beyond our own, stories of abundance, balance and harmony.

Despite their differential approaches and philosophies, Vishakha and Salonika’s works convene on their dedication to highlight the beauty of an ordinary life, and the joy that comes from noticing. Whether it is the communities that nurture us or the environments that shape us, it is these small elements, the ones we often take for granted, that make up a truly well-lived life.