My story

Art came into my life not through textbooks or galleries, but through lived experience. From a young age, I was drawn to the quiet dignity of visual storytelling, the kind that doesn’t shout, but sits with you and speaks through silence. I trained under the late Sardar Dilbagh Singh of Ludhiana, a respected realist painter who sharpened my eye and deepened my respect for discipline and detail. For years, I painted portraits and landscapes—first for locals, then for collectors, eventually opening a family-led studio at home. But everything changed in 2013, when I encountered Mohrakashi during a restoration project at Sri Harmandir Sahib (Golden Temple). That moment redefined my purpose. I wasn’t just painting anymore; I was reviving. I began learning and experimenting with traditional lime plaster techniques, mineral pigments, and floral geometry. With every wall I restored and every brushstroke I placed, I felt I was reconnecting with ancestors who once painted for devotion, not decoration. It hasn’t been an easy road—there were times when I doubted whether anyone even remembered this art. But over time, people began to see the value in what was being lost. Today, I continue to walk this path with a sense of both responsibility and joy.

My vision

I believe art is not just a product—it is memory made visible. My vision is to breathe life into heritage that risks fading from our collective memory. Through Mohrakashi, I want to preserve the sacred geometry, floral symbolism, and spiritual calm that once adorned the walls of our religious and cultural spaces. In a world increasingly rushing toward speed and convenience, I see my work as an act of resistance—of slowing down, of honoring depth, of remembering who we were. I envision a future where the younger generation not only admires this art but learns it, practices it, and perhaps even evolves it in new directions while staying rooted. Art shouldn’t belong only in galleries—it should live in our homes, our sacred places, and our everyday lives. My dream is to build a legacy of knowledge-sharing, to open doors for students, and to contribute to a renaissance of handcrafted, meaningful art in modern India.

Gurpreet's work beautifully revives mohrakashi, showcasing a lost art with passion and dedication.

Anjali Rao

The artistry of Gurpreet Mankoo is mesmerizing, bringing back the essence of mohrakashi art beautifully.

Ravi Singh

★★★★★

★★★★★