BENGALURU: KYNKYNY Art Gallery will present Shape of My Heart, a solo exhibition by artist Nidhi Mariam Jacob, from 24 July to 22 August 2026. The exhibition brings together a new body of paintings inspired by personal memories, grief, and transformation following the passing of the artist’s mother, Helen Elizabeth Jacob. Through imagined gardens and expressive forms, the exhibition reflects on the enduring relationship between memory, nature and healing.
A Personal Journey Translated into Painting
At the centre of the exhibition is Jacob’s recollection of her mother’s deep connection with plants and the natural world. As a child, the artist viewed Helen Elizabeth Jacob as someone who possessed an almost magical understanding of soil, flowers and growth. Those childhood experiences now reappear as dreamlike gardens that exist beyond physical landscapes, becoming emotional spaces shaped by remembrance and imagination.
Rather than documenting real places, the paintings create symbolic environments where longing, affection and memory coexist. Flowers move beyond botanical accuracy, colours shift from observation to emotion, and compositions embrace intuition over realism, reflecting nature’s continuous process of change.
Memory, Resilience and Transformation
While the exhibition originates from personal loss, Shape of My Heart also examines renewal and resilience. The works acknowledge grief while celebrating the influence of a mother who encouraged curiosity, creativity and an appreciation of life’s smallest beginnings.
Dedicated to Helen Elizabeth Jacob, the exhibition presents remembrance not as an ending but as an evolving conversation that continues to shape the artist’s understanding of the world.
About the Artist
Nidhi Mariam Jacob’s practice explores emotional landscapes through painting, drawing upon personal narratives and observations of the natural world. In Shape of My Heart, she combines memory with imaginative storytelling, allowing botanical forms and symbolic imagery to express experiences that extend beyond literal representation. The exhibition continues her interest in translating intimate experiences into contemporary visual language.
KYNKYNY Art Gallery’s Contemporary Programme
Founded in 2004 by Namu Kini and Vivek Radhakrishnan, KYNKYNY Art Gallery has established itself as one of Bengaluru’s prominent contemporary art spaces. The gallery presents exhibitions spanning painting, sculpture and mixed media while supporting both established and emerging Indian artists. Its programme frequently explores themes of cultural memory, material experimentation, environmental concerns and contemporary social narratives.
Visitors can learn more through the gallery’s official website: KYNKYNY Art Gallery. Updates on the exhibition are also available on KYNKYNY Art Gallery Instagram.
Exhibition Highlights
- Solo exhibition featuring new paintings by Nidhi Mariam Jacob
- Inspired by memories of the artist’s mother, Helen Elizabeth Jacob
- Explores grief, remembrance, nature and emotional transformation
- Fantasy garden landscapes created through imagination rather than observation
- Free public entry throughout the exhibition period
Visitor Information
| Event | Details |
|---|---|
| Event Name | Shape of My Heart |
| Artist | Nidhi Mariam Jacob |
| Venue | KYNKYNY Art Gallery, 104 Embassy Square, 148 Infantry Road |
| City | Bengaluru, India (Open Google Map) |
| Opening Date | 24 July 2026 |
| Exhibition Dates | 24 July – 22 August 2026 |
| Organiser | KYNKYNY Art Gallery |
| Entry | Free Entry |
| Timings | Monday–Saturday | 11:00 AM–6:00 PM | Closed Sundays |
| Website | https://www.kynkyny.com |
Final Thoughts
Through Shape of My Heart, Nidhi Mariam Jacob transforms personal remembrance into a broader reflection on love, nature and resilience. By weaving memory with imagined landscapes, the exhibition offers audiences an opportunity to consider how personal experiences can become shared cultural narratives. It also reinforces the role of contemporary art in creating spaces for empathy, healing and meaningful dialogue.
