For Sugandh, symbolism is birthed through her delicate observation of things – living and inanimate. Her works collapse the boundary between drawn and lived worlds.
Her surfaces are not inert, rather they act as visual diaries. She often paints plants growing from trumpets, birds growing out of snail shells, deer growing fruit. This recurring visual strategy unearths a deeper philosophy; what if life refuses to be contained? What if curiosity and wonder, and not design - is the principle through which anything can be a host for life? Time is everywhere in Sugandh’s practice: not as chronology, but as presence. Whether through kinetic movement, the growth of a wasp’s nest, or the ageing of found objects, her artworks are slow conversations with time. And perhaps that is her greatest gift - she teaches the viewer how to wait. In a world that often demands speed, and asks us to look away, her work invites us to notice, to slow down, to soften, to stay a little longer, not out of resistance, but out of reverence.
Yashika Sugandh (b. 1993, Kolkata, India) is a contemporary artist known for her meditative, nature-inspired works that explore themes of displacement, coexistence, and urbanization. Raised in New Delhi and Noida, she earned her BFA and MFA in Painting from Amity University, Noida. Sugandh’s art is deeply influenced by her surroundings, particularly the unnoticed flora and fauna in urban spaces. Her signature motif, the tree branch, symbolizes resilience, selflessness, and the quiet endurance of nature amid rapid modernization. Drawing inspiration from Indian miniature painting, she develops intricate, layered compositions that encourage viewers to reflect on environmental and existential themes. Sugandh has received multiple honors, including the City Award for Delhi in Kalanand Art (2017) and the All-India Merit Grant for Lockdown Art (2021). Through her evocative visual language, she urges audiences to reconsider their relationship with nature and embrace the philosophy of humility and coexistence.
Vartaman, Yashika Sugandh's first solo exhibition was presented by Black Cube Gallery, curated by Sanya Malik at Bikaner House from 26th September to 1st October 2025 and the extension ran from October 4 to October 31, 2025 at the Black Cube Gallery
