Kandi Narsimlu

Kandi Narsimlu’s figurative works capture the soul of rural Telangana—its quirks, customs, and quiet metamorphoses. Through his long-necked muses and riotous hues, he pays homage to his roots in Kaslabad, blending tradition with a modern-day gaze.

Born and raised in the village of Kaslabad in Telangana, Kandi Narsimlu is an artist driven by a personal mission, to preserve the spirit of his community through art. With a keen eye on the shifting sands of rural identity, Narsimlu captures both the timeless and the transitional - women balancing steel tiffin boxes, men enjoying a paan under the sun, children trailing after cattle - all presented in a palette bursting with joy and complexity. Each face in his work is distinctly hued, echoing an ethos of harmony, and the unity-in-diversity that defines his community.

At the heart of his practice lies a deep emotional connection to memory, home, and belonging. The people he paints are unmistakable: long-necked, sharp-eyed, wise, and watching. They don’t just exist on the canvas- they confront you with their silence, draw you into their stories. There's a grandmother with a coin purse tucked into her sari, a man reclining with a paan-stained grin, a child staring back at you with more understanding than years.

Yet beyond the humour and quirk, there's a quiet rebellion. A resistance against cultural amnesia. A refusal to let the details, however small, fade away.