“Printmaking is a meditative experience”

Rajkumari Sharma Tankha

Art comes naturally to her. “It is the only space where I feel  truly myself – eversince I was a child,” says Khushboo, 24, who is having a solo exhibition of her works in Gurugram. The exhibition is titled Everything I wanted to Forget and showcases 35 works that she has created over the last one year. Interestingly, each work in the show connects to the next — forming a continuous narrative.
Born in 2001 in Uttar Pradesh, Khushboo holds a Bachelor’s degree in Painting from Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi, and a Master’s in Printmaking from the Department of Graphic Arts, Faculty of Fine Arts, The Maharaja Sayajirao University of Baroda, Gujarat.
While Everything I Waited to Forget is her first major solo presentation, she has been a part of several group shows during and after college in Delhi, Baroda, Hyderabad and other cities, “which helped me shape my practice and confidence over time”.
Excerpts from an interview:

Please tell us more about your show Everything I Waited to Forget. How many total works are there and how long did you take to complete these?

Everything I Waited to Forget is a show that explores life, death, and everything that exists in between — the rituals, emotions, presence, and absence. It looks at what remains with us and what we try to forget, but can’t.

What is the idea behind holding this show? What are your expectations?

My intention was to bring together all these thoughts and works that were growing inside me for a long time — to release them into a space where others can experience them too. I hope the audience feels a sense of stillness, reflection, and connection — even if our stories are different.

Will you be taking this show to other venues or cities?

Not planned yet, but I would really like to. The conversations are open, and I believe this theme is universal — it can resonate in different contexts and places.

Isnt 24 too young an age to talk about meditative engagement with life, death, and transformation — what makes you do so?

I feel, age doesn’t decide what we experience internally. I have closely seen rituals, cremations, and the idea of endings. These moments stayed with me — not in a tragic way, but in a deeply curious and reflective way.
Along with that, I read — philosophy, poetry, and thoughts that go deep within. I am drawn towards whatever makes me feel something intense and real. My work doesn’t revolve around death alone, but around every emotion connected to it — memory, separation, celebration, transformation… everything that touches the core.
I can say that the deeper shift in my practice really began from this point — where I started engaging with life and death not as opposites, but as two continuous states.

Does formal art education help or is it innate?

Both. Formal education gave me direction and tools, but curiosity, observation and inner sensitivity — they come from within.

Why printmaking and drawing?

Because they allow repetition and transformation — the same plate can create multiple impressions, just like life leaves marks again and again. The process itself feels meditative. It gives time to think, to breathe, to engage deeply with the idea.

Solo or group shows — which do you prefer?

Both hold value. Solo shows allow a complete experience of one’s world. Group shows allow dialogue and learning from others. I feel my practice needs a healthy balance of the two.

Your idol in the art world? And why?

I admire the work of Joyce Silverstone, especially her sensitivity toward layering and mark-making in printmaking. I relate to the way her visuals emerge through process. In my practice, I do not plan for abstraction — the form develops naturally from the concepts I explore. That subtle communication inspires me.

What’s your take on online art galleries?

I have just stepped into the art world, and I am still learning and growing through my practice. Online platforms have opened visibility for artists, but for me, the physical experience of art remains essential.

Are you a full-time artist? Can one sustain on art alone?

Yes, I am a full-time artist. And yes, one can sustain with consistency, patience, and support. It’s not always easy, but it is deeply fulfilling.

What’s coming next — shows or art camps?

I am currently focused on my ongoing research and practice. At this moment, nothing is officially planned, but I am hopeful that new opportunities and exhibitions will come soon.

What are your other interests?

I enjoy observing everyday life, reading, writings, and exploring new mediums and environments that can feed into my art.

The show is on view till November 24, at Art Incept, 227, 2nd Floor,
|Southpoint Mall, Golf Course Rd, Sec 53, DLF Phase 5, Gurugram