Botanical Grief and Metamorphosis: Nidhi Mariam Jacob at KYNKYNY

Roots of a Signature Style

Artist Nidhi Mariam Jacob transitioned from the rigid confines of graphic design to the tactile world of manual fine art after years of professional experimentation. Her current exhibition at Kynkyny Art Gallery, titled Shape of My Heart, showcases the culmination of a decade-long search for a distinct visual identity. Jacob's path involved rejecting computer-based workflows in favor of painting on diverse surfaces, ranging from domestic furniture and trunks to large-scale murals. Her early botanical realism eventually gave way to a hybrid aesthetic, where stamen are added to flora that lack them and features of different species, such as roses and tulips, merge into surreal composites.

A Tribute to Maternal Influence

This solo exhibition serves as a memorial to the artist’s mother, Helen, who fostered Jacob’s connection to nature through her own dedicated gardening. Jacob credits her mother’s ability to cultivate life in challenging terrains as the foundational inspiration for these works. While children often resonate with the clear lines and symmetry of the pieces, the collection contains sophisticated departures from reality, featuring blue foliage and colors that bypass traditional botanical accuracy.

Translating Grief into Geometry

The twenty acrylic canvases on display were produced over a two-year period following Helen’s passing. For the first time, Jacob has adopted Indian titles to categorize the emotional phases represented in her art. The naming conventions reflect a spiritual trajectory through mourning:

• Mukti: Representing liberation.
• Artha: Exploring meaning and purpose.
• Samsara: A focus on the cycle of life.
• Dusk: A study of shadowy evening environments punctuated by vibrant floral highlights.

From Digital Discovery to Gallery Display

Jacob’s move into fantasy gardens solidified approximately nine years ago when she shared a painting on cardboard via social media. A collector’s immediate purchase and encouragement catalyzed a steady stream of global commissions. Because the majority of her output is traditionally sold directly to clients or exists as public installations—such as her work at Bangalore International Airport’s Terminal 2—this exhibit offers a rare public viewing of her collected portfolio. Shape of My Heart remains open at KYNKYNY Art Gallery through August 22, 2026, excluding Sundays.

Source: The Hindu – Entertainment