Meet Paree Rohera | Artist

We had the good fortune of connecting with Paree Rohera and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Paree, where are your from? We’d love to hear about how your background has played a role in who you are today?

I was born and brought up in Mumbai, India, and find that I take on its inherent chaos. Once you soften your view of the anarchy and inconvenience of the city, it becomes more beautiful than any other.

I only realized how much of this intensity I carried once I came to study in the U.S. The most honest thing for me when I get to go home is the stimulus it provides. Going back and forth between India and the U.S. has really become like switching between phases of inspiration and reflection.

When I come back to paint in Rhode Island, I notice that my entire painting practice is drawn towards beauty in the negative—the ‘negative’ often being my insecurities that are common in the South Asian community that are often overlooked. Physical insecurities like body hair and big noses are the most prominent in my painting visually, however mental insecurities like anxiety and existentialism are more recently finding a way into the foreground thematically. I commit these themes to canvas with the intention of transforming them into something visually captivating, finding peace in the vibrant hues and intricate patterns.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
From a young age, I found immense joy and satisfaction in the art of beautification—whether it was my nails, hair, room, handwriting, or style. All I knew is that it was the most natural and innate thing for me to do, and not itching these creative urges, small or big, would be a disservice to myself. However, my school, like many other education systems around India, was hyper-competitive with a stronger culture of placing value on STEM career paths over the arts.

At the time, others often saw my creative urges as a waste of time, and with everyone around me being steered to a path that wasn’t mine, it was hard for me to realize the possibility of becoming an artist. In hindsight, I am very grateful that I took the gamble regardless and put in all my time and energy into my art, and realized that the simple itches for creativity didn’t answer to a hobby but was capable of being honed into a professional skill. This context makes me doubly appreciative of the education and environment at RISD that has provided a space for creation that I knew I needed.

My journey of taking up art as a professional career has been significantly facilitated by my mother, a talented jewelry designer, who raised me in her world of creativity. Growing up surrounded by her intricate sketches and designs, I developed a profound appreciation for the intricacies of South Asian ornamentation. This early exposure continues to influence my practice, particularly in my recent fascination with side profile caricatures. I’ve found that caricatures serve as a compelling vessel for storytelling, allowing me to explore contrasts and contradictions within a single image.

The side-view offers me a deliberate avenue to scrutinize these specific features I aim to illuminate. The distinct features of these characters—strong face structure, sharp nose, long tapered eyebrow, hunched back, and almond-shaped eyes—are integral to capturing the essence of their beings. By adorning these imagined figures with elements of Indian ornamentation—such as elaborate clothing, intricate wallpapers, and ornate jewelry—while deliberately exaggerating features traditionally deemed “ugly,” I create a tension that challenges conventional notions of beauty and ugliness.

More recently, I’ve found these caricatures evolving into extensions of myself. Placing them within imagined narratives that resonate with my inner struggles has become a cathartic practice, and almost blurs the lines between caricature and self-portraiture. I have found myself capturing an essence where personal identity seamlessly merges with cultural imagery within every element and detail.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
I’d say taking them around the different studios and workshops at RISD would be the most exciting thing. Other than that, I have a very limited list of places I like to eat at in Providence – La Mei, India Resteraunt, Aguardente, and Jahunger.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
I think this shoutout is dedicated to my sister, Meera. Our experiences, conversations and reflections are most honest, and vital to me and my practice.

Website: Www.pareerohera.com

Instagram: @pareerohera

Image Credits
First photo by Stanley