The Ungrateful Reptile & The Flaky Butterfly is a self-portrait of Akshara and Prakruthi as they see themselves in 2026. Two unlikely characters, hanging out together and moving through the world with curiosity, wonder and a little bit of chaos. Made from a playful mix of discarded and repurposed materials, the work reflects their shared fascination with everything around them—figuring things out as they go, enjoying the strange, ordinary and unexpected moments along the way.

Created as part of the JOY exhibition in New Delhi, these limited-edition canvas totes bring the exhibition’s playful visual language into everyday life. Featuring the distinctive JOY graphic in bold, vibrant colours, the totes turn a simple everyday essential into a wearable piece of the exhibition. Designed to be practical, reusable, and easy to carry, they are made for everything from gallery visits and coffee runs to books, groceries, and daily essentials.

Happy / Sad, in your Hand is a playful reflection on the emotional duality we carry with us. Two hand mirrors become vessels for contrasting moods—one happy, one sad—while their imperfect, textured surfaces and scattered crystals add a sense of tenderness and humour to the work. The mirrors invite us to look at ourselves while also questioning what we see. With their little resin teeth appearing almost like smiles, the familiar object becomes something slightly strange and characterful.

In the Early Evening is a tall, atmospheric landscape that captures the transition between daylight and night. A glowing sun or moon hangs over a richly coloured landscape, while twisting vegetation and organic forms create a sense of depth and movement. The narrow vertical format gives the scene the quality of a distant, unfolding world—quiet, mysterious, and slightly surreal. Deep blues, greens, oranges, and reds heighten the feeling of an imagined landscape suspended between reality and dream.

Earth centres on a monumental, ancient-looking tree whose twisting branches extend across a vivid pink landscape. The tree becomes both a physical presence and a symbolic anchor, with small birds and leaves inhabiting its sprawling form. The incorporation of actual earth into the work introduces a tactile connection between material and subject, grounding the fantastical landscape in the physical world. Through its unusual colours and exaggerated organic forms, Earth evokes ideas of resilience, interconnectedness, and the enduring presence of nature.

Whisper of the Stars presents a fantastical encounter between human-like figures and an otherworldly landscape. Set against an intensely coloured forest and rippling water, the elongated figures appear immersed in a quiet, mysterious exchange with their surroundings. Saturated reds, blues, oranges, and purples create a dreamlike atmosphere, while the expressive forms lend the work a sense of myth and timelessness. The painting invites the viewer into a world where nature, imagination, and the human figure exist in an ambiguous and poetic space.

Treasure Hunt is a surreal exploration of the strange and beautiful things we discover when we look a little closer. A dreamlike figure sits within a world of vibrant flowers, fluid forms and unexpected colours, creating a composition that feels both playful and otherworldly. The layered use of gouache and colour pencil gives the work a tactile, hand-drawn quality, balancing bold colour with intricate details.

Thorned Beauty explores the contrast between delicacy and defence. The sculptural ceramic form is intentionally raw and organic, its thorn-covered body holding a delicate arrangement of flowers at its centre. The contrast between the fragile blooms and the rugged, protective exterior gives the piece its character—beautiful, strange and unapologetically imperfect. The Raku-fired finish further enhances its earthy, tactile quality.

Horned Lady depicts a fantastical female figure through an expressive combination of vivid colour, graphic line, and stylised form. The prominent horns and luminous facial features give the character a mythical presence, while the intense palette creates a sense of mystery and energy. Small in scale but visually commanding, the work feels like a glimpse into an imagined world populated by unconventional, dreamlike characters.

Portrait of a Lady is a striking contemporary portrait defined by bold colour and stylised form. The figure’s luminous yellow-green complexion contrasts dramatically with deep blue hair and a vivid red garment, creating an arresting visual presence. Intricate, sculptural lines shape the hair and frame the face, giving the portrait an almost fantastical quality. Rather than pursuing conventional realism, the work uses colour, geometry, and expression to create a character that feels both familiar and otherworldly.