Rishi Raj Tomer

Inspired by the natural world from an early age, this Chandigarh based artist has devoted his creative journey to exploring the relationship between humanity, environment, and spirituality through art. What began as a childhood fascination with sketching everyday objects gradually evolved into a lifelong commitment to visual expression, leading to advanced studies in Fine Arts and the development of a distinctive artistic identity.

Holding a Ph.D. in Fine Arts, along with Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in Fine Arts from Kurukshetra University, both earned with Gold Medals, he has consistently combined academic excellence with creative innovation. His scholarly achievements are further reflected in his qualification of the UGC-NET and Junior Research Fellowship, strengthening both his research and studio practice.

Nature serves as the primary source of inspiration in his work. Time spent observing animals, birds, landscapes, and natural phenomena has nurtured a deep sensitivity toward environmental concerns and the interconnectedness of life. These observations are transformed into compelling visual narratives that address themes of ecological balance, human welfare, mythology, and contemporary social realities. His artworks often encourage viewers to reflect on the consequences of unchecked development and humanity’s responsibility toward the natural world.

Experimentation is central to his artistic process. Working across drawing, painting, and mixed media, he employs acrylics, watercolours, soft pastels, and self-developed techniques that challenge conventional approaches. Particularly notable is his highly detailed pen-and-ink “scribbling” technique, through which intricate compositions emerge from countless lines, textures, and tonal variations. This innovative method has become a hallmark of his practice, demonstrating remarkable patience, precision, and technical mastery.

Recurring motifs such as monkeys, bulls, lotus forms, tridents, and mythological symbols appear throughout his oeuvre, bridging realism with symbolism and inviting multiple layers of interpretation. His work has been exhibited nationally and internationally, including presentations in Croatia, Thailand, and Italy, and has earned numerous honours, most notably the National Award from the National Lalit Kala Akademi, Ministry of Culture, Government of India (2022).

For him, art is both a meditative discipline and a means of communication an enduring pursuit through which ideas, emotions, and concerns about the world can be expressed beyond the limitations of words.