A contemplative exhibition featuring the printmaking works of artist K.M. Khushboo opened in Delhi NCR, presenting a deeply personal exploration of life, transformation, and the human experience. The solo show, titled "Everything I Waited to Forget," showcases at Art Incept in Gurugram through November 24, offering visitors an intimate glimpse into the artist's meditation on existence and memory.
The exhibition's title carries profound personal significance for Khushboo, reflecting her philosophy on life's accumulated experiences. "After seeing and experiencing so many things, they keep collecting on their own, and the weight of it comes to mind," explains the artist. "The work you are doing now—you either relieve yourself through it or fill yourself with it. For me, it is a relief. It's everything that I was waiting to forget." She clarifies that the concept isn't about erasing memories but rather about transforming their emotional weight and giving shape to invisible feelings.
Khushboo's artistic journey began early, with painting classes and art camps filling her summer vacations from sixth grade onward. Born in Gorakhpur, she pursued formal art education at Banaras Hindu University, where she earned her Bachelor of Fine Arts degree, followed by a Master's degree in Printmaking from The Maharaja Sayajirao University of Baroda. This educational progression proved pivotal in shaping her artistic vision and technical expertise.
The artist's work draws deeply from spiritual and philosophical traditions, particularly texts like the Bhagavad Gita and the poetry of Kabir Das. "Philosophical, spiritual, and religious ideas connect with me deeply. When I started reading scriptures and poetry, I found their ideas and messages very inspiring," Khushboo shares. This spiritual foundation permeates her artistic practice, informing her contemplations on fundamental themes of life, death, and transformation.
A significant shift occurred during Khushboo's time at Baroda, where her artistic focus evolved from figurative forms and still life portraits to more conceptual work. The academic environment there emphasized the meaning and message behind artistic creation, challenging her to find her unique voice. "When I went to Baroda, everything shifted. There, the focus was on concepts—what your work means, what message you want to convey," she recalls. This transition led her to use her own image as a reference point, initially causing uncertainty about whether others would find personal subject matter compelling.
The process of self-discovery through art became transformative for Khushboo. "I felt that I didn't have anything else for reference, so I started making myself the focus of my art. Gradually, I began translating those ideas into my mediums—and everything started taking shape from there," she explains. This introspective approach allowed her to develop a distinctive artistic language that bridges personal experience with universal themes.
Printmaking serves as Khushboo's primary medium of expression, encompassing techniques such as etching, drypoint, and woodcut. She finds the medium particularly suited to her contemplative practice due to its time-intensive, process-driven nature. "The printmaking process is actually quite time-consuming, but it teaches you the weight of things. It teaches you curiosity along with patience," she observes. "It's a balance between control and surprise. Sometimes, the print reveals what you didn't even know."
The meditative quality of printmaking aligns perfectly with Khushboo's spiritual inclinations and philosophical investigations. From preparing plates to pulling the final print, each step requires patience and mindfulness, qualities that mirror her approach to understanding life's complexities. This methodical process becomes a form of contemplative practice, allowing for both technical mastery and emotional exploration.
Visitors to "Everything I Waited to Forget" at Art Incept encounter works that reflect Khushboo's inner world and her ongoing dialogue with existence. The exhibition presents printmaking not merely as an artistic technique but as a vehicle for spiritual and philosophical inquiry. Each piece in the show represents a step in her journey of transforming life's accumulated experiences into visual poetry.
The exhibition continues through November 24 at Art Incept, located in South Point Mall, Sector 53, Gurugram, offering audiences an opportunity to engage with Khushboo's unique artistic vision. Through her printmaking practice, she invites viewers to contemplate their own relationship with memory, transformation, and the beauty found within life's impermanent nature.
