India, March 21 -- Do you prefer to speak as an artist who transcends boundaries, or as a Kashmiri artist deeply rooted in the soul of the Valley?

I believe art, by its very nature, transcends boundaries, but every artist is inevitably shaped by their roots. My work is deeply embedded in the Kashmiri experience - its beauty, its pain, its survival. I do not see myself as separate from Kashmir; my art is an extension of its landscape, history, and struggles.

Why did you choose to become an artist in a society dominated by conventional professions?

It wasn't a choice in the conventional sense; it was an inner calling. In a place where careers in medicine, engineering, or government jobs were considered stable, pursuing art was an act of ...