1984

Umesh PK (b. 1984, Kerala) is an Indian contemporary artist who through his practice tries to convey the urgency of re-establishing the lost pathways between humans and nature. He frequently finds inspiration in the surrounding natural environment and expresses his worries about the disappearance of human-nature connections. His artistic endeavours are fuelled by his fascination with mythology, the history of representation, and spirituality. His early years in Kerala, the southernmost region of the Indian subcontinent, which lies between the Western Ghat, a global hotspot for biodiversity, and the Arabian Sea's extensive coastline, imprinted in him the lush landscapes he depicts in his paintings. He describes his work as reflective and an effort to comprehend painting in terms of its basic elements, including color interactions, line and form play, and creating a feeling of space on a two-dimensional surface. He holds a BFA from the College of Fine Arts, Trivandrum (2006) and an MFA from Hyderabad Central University (2008). His work has been featured in significant exhibitions such as the Forest Festival of Arts in Okayama (Japan, 2024), the Serendipity Arts Festival (Goa, 2017), and Lokame Tharavadu—a Kochi-Muziris Biennale project (2021). He has exhibited at major platforms including the India Art Fair with Akara Contemporary and Palette Art Gallery and held his solo show "Looking at a Tree, seeing a Forest" at Akara Contemporary (2025) and Excavated Memories at Contemplate Art Gallery, Coimbatore (2015).