The purpose of any art is to express, to tell a story. Art today is multidimensional, derived from themes that are urban or global. Ascending Roots was about exploring the cross-pollination of thoughts and emotions, media and techniques, and style and imagery. Ascending Roots aimed to be a series highlighting contemporary urban artists whose works are deeply rooted in Indian aesthetics — artists who have imbibed regional imagery, often from their immediate surroundings, with a local flavour, challenging the contemporary paradigm and elevating their practice into a new realm.

For more than ten years, Ojas Art has presented art at the Jaipur Literature Festival in Jaipur and in selected cities overseas. The Ojas Art Award celebrates the best in indigenous arts and has recognised artists such as Bhajju Shyam, Santosh Kumar Das, Lado Bai, Rajesh Vangad, and Mayur and Tushar Vayeda from indigenous communities.

Over the years, Ojas Art has presented installations by artists such as K. S. Radhakrishnan, Subodh Gupta, Orijit Sen, and Shiv Verma. Ojas Art has also presented experimental works at the Jaipur Literature Festival to bring a different voice to the festival.

“Anubhav Nath has helped bring a different creative aspect to the Jaipur Literature Festival for more than ten years now. The Ojas Art Award has helped recognise and celebrate creativity from across the country and communities. Our visual arts programme at the festival is very unique,” said Sanjoy Roy, Producer, Jaipur Literature Festival.

In 2023, Manjunath Kamath presented two artworks at the Jaipur Literature Festival: Love Poem, a terracotta work, and Visvaroopa, alongside works by Bhajju Shyam and Santosh Kumar Das. In 2025, Veer Munshi presented two artworks from his celebrated Healing Wounds series, created in collaboration with Kashmiri papier-mâché artists.

“It was very fulfilling to see visitors interact with the artworks at the Jaipur Literature Festival in a very real, informal way — something that is not possible in a formal gallery or museum. Art is meant for the public, and this is a unique way to take art to a different audience,” said Manjunath Kamath.

“The conversation around my work was very special, as the audience was very varied and had a very different approach to viewing and understanding the artworks. Being on the ground in Jaipur gave me a chance to interact with very young people who had a different understanding of the Kashmir issues,” said Veer Munshi.