RAD- Resident Artist in Downtown at Base Camp Studio. Seattle. WA
Project — KANIYO. Tales
Timeline — 3-months. June-August, 2025.
Artist Statement — Kaniyo. Tales
Kaniyo. Tales is a visual and narrative exploration that reinterprets traditional folklore through a contemporary lens while remaining deeply rooted in the artist’s cultural and aesthetic heritage. The work draws from a diverse range of visual influences — traditional tattoo styles (Japanese and American), textile patterns, the intricate detailing of Indian miniature painting, and geometric composition — all unified by a vibrant color palette reminiscent of the artist’s upbringing in South India. Through this synthesis, the artist constructs a storytelling language that honors the intricacy and symbolism of folk narratives while situating them within a modern visual context.
The first edition of Kaniyo. Tales revisits four classic fables: “The Snake and the Mongoose,” “The Crocodile and the Monkey’s Heart,” “The Frogs in the Well,” and “The Goose that Laid the Golden Eggs.” Each story, passed down through generations of oral and written traditions, embodies timeless moral lessons that continue to resonate today. Themes of distrust, deceit, greed, and consequence connect these tales, revealing enduring truths about human nature and the recurring cycles of desire and downfall.
In “The Crocodile and the Monkey’s Heart,” betrayal exposes the fragility of trust and friendship. “The Goose that Laid the Golden Eggs” warns of the destructive force of greed, while “The Frogs in the Well” reflects the dangers of ignorance and pride. “The Snake and the Mongoose” reminds viewers of the consequences of impulsive action. Together, these fables serve as allegories for moral tension — mirrors of both individual behavior and broader social patterns.
Conceptualized during the pandemic, the series reconsiders these familiar tales through — a time marked by isolation, reflection, and rediscovery. Stories once told in childhood for amusement or instruction have taken on new emotional and philosophical depth. Their lessons of survival, interdependence, and introspection feel newly urgent, underscoring how folklore continues to echo through shifting cultural and historical moments.
Visually, the series employs tattoo-like linework, miniature-inspired precision, and symbolic patterning to bring these narratives into a renewed artistic language. By using materials such as wood, latex paint, and resin, the artist anchors these ancient tales in the present, transforming moral parables into tactile, contemporary expressions. The combination of these materials bridges tradition and modernity — the handmade and the industrial — grounding mythic storytelling within the texture of the everyday.
Kaniyo. Tales operates on multiple levels: as a visual homage to traditional art forms, a reinterpretation of inherited narratives, and a meditation on the moral complexities that define human experience. Through the merging of storytelling, symbolism, and memory, the series reaffirms the enduring relevance of folklore — demonstrating that even in times of uncertainty, ancient tales continue to speak with startling clarity to the modern condition.
