Meet Khushboo Gundroo | Graphic Artist

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

Hi Khushboo, can you share a quote or affirmation with us?
My all-time favorite movie quote would be from the song ‘Bare Necessities, from The Jungle Book. There is something very nostalgic and weirdly affirming about the whole song. On an overwhelming day, I find comfort when I can just hum~ ‘The bare necessities of life will come to you!’

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
I was born and raised in Kashmir, a place known for its artisan culture, handicrafts, and scenic beauty, but over the years, these scenes have been set in stages of conflict. Being surrounded by this stark contrast of culture and conflict has shaped how I see the world, both artistically and personally. I have always been interested in exploring different forms of creative expression and figuring out the one that best reflects my ideas. Narrowing down this process has been my greatest artistic struggle and pursuit. Being able to filter out media, opinions, and information in this media-heavy age and deciding my own story is something that has taken me a long time to figure out. Right now I am enjoying a transition state, shifting my focus to a more experimental direction, making small, unrelated pieces, and exploring mixed media techniques. I am excited to learn new skills, explore existing ones, and hopefully create something worthwhile.

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?
There are many ways I could plan this out, prepare an itinerary of things we can do. But, in my opinion, the greatest way to appreciate any city is to go on a “mundane” adventure through it, and that is exactly how I would take anyone to Srinagar. Khanqah, in central Srinagar (where I am from), has many cobblestoned streets that lead to quaint ancestral houses that are exquisite examples of Kashmiri architecture. Adjacent to these are modern ones, abandoned pandit houses, and newer establishments that give you a unique sense of time and history unlike those seen on pages. Small kander vanns (bakers shops) poking here and there with the smell of freshly baked bread, copper utensils hanging from some, tilla embroidery shops, and old tailor shops, against the backdrop of the mountains and river Jehlum passing by, give you so much ordinary chaos to marvel at. Oblivious to this, people are preoccupied with their own domestic lives, finding their bare necessities of life. To me, capturing people in this mundane and routine setting seems like walking into a painting. I would love to share that feeling with someone.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
I feel my story is a shoutout to not anything or anyone in particular but to a motley mix of people, films, books, experiences, and interactions—all of them have carried me through thick and thin, and to single out a few would be unfair to the rest. I am a product of this mix, and I can only appreciate each person, film, book, experience, and interaction that has shaped me and continues to shape me.

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/_khushboooooooo/

Linkedin: linkedin.com/in/khushboo-gundroo-0b0b66217

Other: https://www.behance.net/khushboo00gundroo