Ritesh Khowal

Arts & Humanities (MFA)

Body microcosm, man looking at fire, contemplating about nature of reality — In searching for yourself outside,What have you done ? 105 x 183cm Acrylic on canvas In physics, the observer effect refers to the disturbance of a system caused by the act of observation. When applied to a controlled human living system, this concept reflects the tension between human efforts to impose order and the inherently dynamic nature of the world. The ‘painted microcosm’ serves as a metaphor for this conflict—a representation of the paradox between the human desire to control and the ever-evolving processes of the natural world.

A boy watching video of climate scientist speaking about green revolution — Watching green revolution 87 x 87cm Acrylic on canvas The painted image reflects on the nature of looking and questioning within. The work investigates the cyclical nature of consuming. How - What we eat influences our body, What we see and think influences our mind. The protagonist is watching a climate scientist speaking on, how cyclical organic farming in India has been systematically replaced by chemical fertilisers post industrial revolution.

Portrait of a man sleeping — The fish in the water is thirsty 56.5 x 56.5cm Acrylic on canvas This work is a visual interpretation of a poetic verse by 15th-century Indian mystic Kabir, who spoke with irony and amusement: “I laugh when I see the fish is thirsty in water.” Kabir’s verse highlights the paradox of human existence — our endless search for meaning, peace, or divinity in the external world, while the very essence of what we seek surrounds us. The imagery reflects this spiritual irony: like the fish unaware of the water it lives in, we often remain asleep to the profound reality that envelops us. The artwork explores themes of inner ignorance, spiritual yearning, and the overlooked presence of truth, offering a contemplative space for viewers to recognise their own reflection within the painted microcosm.

This is a video documentation of site specific installation titled- We carry our world with us. Size - 225 sq ft Conceptual Framework The body is not merely a physical entity but an event unfolding in time—a psychological and metaphysical phenomenon. In this work, I examine subjective experiences (both inner and outer) from an alternative third-person analytical perspective. This particular work exists in the liminal space between sleeping and waking states, transitioning from inner to outer experience. The unfolding visual experience mirrors the shifting states of human consciousness. A human being, existing within both political and spiritual dimensions, serves as a point of departure in time and space. The protagonist, partially revealed, is in a continuous state of inquiry, engaging with the self and surroundings. Here, the boundary between-self and non-self, political and metaphysical, material and immaterial is intentionally blurred, aiming to create a holistic experience of reality. The work navigates existential themes such as mortality, identity, natural and man-made violence, and the physicality of time. The body becomes a site of convergence, where external and internal forces shape human existence. Every human experience begins and ends with the body, yet I believe we transcend the physical form, existing as interconnected beings within a greater totality. The body, our first home, accompanies us from birth until death—we are never separate from it. Material & Process This is a site-specific work, realized within the given studio space during my master's program. The work integrates found objects, furniture, and architectural elements in response to lived spaces. Over the course of a year, the space gradually transformed into an experiential workspace, where being and time played a crucial role in shaping the installation. Medium - Found object,tree roots, soil, clay, water, wood, pvc board, charcoal, mirror, fence wire, furniture (modified) , emulsion paint , putty, iron, & inkjet print on paper etc Through these materials, the work manifests as a sensory and conceptual inquiry into existence, where the body serves as both subject and medium in the exploration of time, space, and consciousness.

About

Ritesh Khowal is a visual artist/ painter based between India and UK.

MFA – Arts & Humanities
Royal College of Art, London, UK | 2024-2025

Master of Visual Arts – Creative Painting
Maharaja Sayajirao University of Baroda, INDIA | 2018-2020

Bachelor of Visual Arts – Painting
Maharaja Sayajirao University of Baroda, INDIA | 2014-2018

”My practice lies at the intersection of scientific inquiry and poetic reflection, driven by a persistent questioning of the nature of existence. As a painter and visual artist, I draw on the traditions of natural philosophy—exploring the physical universe and our evolving relationship with it—while navigating the socio-political undercurrents of our time.

Through images, objects, materials, and immersive installations, I examine the human condition, behavioural patterns, survival instincts, and the shifting boundaries between humanity and the natural world. My work probes consciousness and perception, reflecting on how constructed systems of thought shape our understanding of reality.

I seek to demystify dominant discourses and their embedded languages—those that define what we accept as truth—creating spaces where we can momentarily disengage from politicised identities and imposed conditions. In doing so, I aim to offer a neutral zone for contemplation, where viewers are invited to reconnect with their essential humanity and consider broader philosophical and scientific perspectives.

Exploring the fluid boundary between the personal and political, my work confronts themes of violence, memory, and illusion. The body becomes a site of experience—both material and ephemeral—through which I reflect on the fragility and transience of existence.”

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