Naqsh Raj / Artwork Naqsh Raj 1811

By 2014, my interest in representation had completely waned. I had ‘unlearned’ academic precision, lost some control and developed anxiety. To regain a sense of structure, I began using single-cell stencils, but remained true to my instinct for freedom in applying paint. The integration of stencil and gesture took many years. Decisions were tested, refined and gradually integrated consciously. For me, this process creates a balance between control and spontaneity, structure and intuition – two worlds in which I had to live simultaneously.”