Delhi-based artist Imdad Barbhuyan uses photography to thoughtfully explore identity and belonging through our relationship with flowers, plants and nature. We asked Imdad some questions to find out more about his work:
Tell us about yourself: where did your creative journey begin, and what led you to photography?
Hello! I’m Imdad Barbhuyan, a self-taught visual artist based out of Delhi, India. My work explores themes of identity, belonging, intimacy and the profound connection between humanity and the natural world.
Born in Assam and raised amid its lush landscapes, I’ve always felt deeply connected to the Earth – a sentiment that is at the heart of my work. While I come from an architecture background, the more I studied design, the more I found myself leaning towards the ideology of ‘not building’. After graduating, I explored set and product design and worked with a skincare brand for a year before transitioning to my independent practice.
My relationship with the camera began with photographing garments I designed during my college years, documenting them on friends in the streets and monuments of Rajasthan. Over time, I found myself drawn back to the Earth, creating images with flowers, leaves and water to tell stories of belonging and interconnectedness.
The journey has been organic and cathartic, filled with exploration and rediscovery. I didn’t grow up with artistic influences or a clear path to becoming an artist, but I’ve paved my own way by following my heart. I found my voice through this process of looking at life, nature and myself, through the camera. Today, my interdisciplinary practice encompasses photography, writing, performance, earth art and video, reflecting my belief in the interconnectedness of humanity and the natural world.
Flowers, plants and gardens are recurring themes throughout your work, what draws you to these explorations of nature?
I work with nature because I am nature. To me, the natural world is not separate from who we are and the images I create with flowers, leaves and water are, in a way, self-portraits.
What fascinates me is how nature, with all its intricacies, seems so perfectly designed, yet its origins remain an enduring mystery. This balance of order and enigma inspires me endlessly.
I find I need to leave the city every three months, seeking out places with water or forests. When I’m in the city, I visit the gardens to remind myself that I am a piece of nature too.
Through my work, I aim to offer others the same sense of belonging with nature that I feel deeply within myself. For me, nature isn’t just a subject – it’s a space of reflection, healing and endless inspiration. It’s home.
Can you tell us about your series “Portrait of a Flower”? How did you choose the flowers and create these intimate portraits?
In our fast-paced world, flowers are a moment of calm. I look at flowers as portals – an invitation into a moment of stillness – inspiring us to pause and to appreciate beauty in the everyday.
For my series, I photograph the flowers that find their way into my life – whether it’s a flower that’s keeping me company in my room at a given moment or one I encounter while traveling. Each portrait becomes like a diary entry, capturing the essence of a moment and the emotions tied to it.
Each flower serves as a mirror to the human experience, quietly reminding us of the transience of life and the beauty in embracing our own fleeting moments here on Earth.
In your series “My Mother and I”, the photos show your mother and yourself in a garden, picking and arranging flowers. Is this your mothers garden, why did you choose to set the series here?
Yes, these images were made in my mother’s garden. It was during Covid, a time when life slowed down in unexpected ways. I had just quit my job and returned home for what I thought would be a brief pause, but the lockdown turned it into a much longer stay.
The lockdown gave me the chance to slow down and explore image-making more freely, without pressure or attachment to outcomes. With limited resources and an abundance of time, the garden became a sanctuary. I began photographing flowers and leaves from the garden itself, and eventually, my family members, especially my mother.
My mother has always been a central figure in my life, but this was the moment she also became a part of my creative universe. It felt like a natural evolution of our bond, intertwining my personal life with my art practice.
‘My Mother and I’ was, in fact, my first commissioned project. It holds a deeply special place in my heart and remains one of the most memorable projects I’ve ever worked on.
What does a typical day in the life of an artist look like for you?
Mornings often begin gently for me. I ease into the day with some light stretching and a cup of green tea, taking a moment to soak in the sunlight streaming into my room. I’ll water my plants while listening to soft music, allowing this quiet time to set the tone for the day. It’s a time for reflection, journaling or simply being present.
My creative practice is intuitive and fluid, so my schedule isn’t rigid. I might spend time planning new projects, editing photos, writing or preparing social media posts. Some days, I dive into the admin side of my work – updating my website, responding to emails, applying to residencies or shipping my photography prints.
When I’m inspired to shoot, I often head to a garden and wander, letting my surroundings guide me. I look for the softness of light filtering through trees or the gentle sway of flowers in the breeze. I usually carry a book with me and might sit under a tree to read or write a poem.
Evenings are for unwinding. I enjoy dinners with friends, sharing conversations about our life and our dreams or quiet dinners alone in my apartment. This is also the time I engage with my audience online, sharing my art and responding to comments.
Ultimately, my days are about balancing creation and contemplation – seeking beauty in the ordinary and weaving it into my art.
Do you have any favourite gardens to visit or places to immerse yourself in nature?
Gardens are the first places I visit when I’m in a new city; they offer a unique way to understand a place and its culture. As someone who lives in the city, gardens serve as my refuge – lush green islands amidst the urban landscape, where I can slow down and let my senses align with nature’s rhythms.
Sunder Nursery and Lodi Garden in Delhi, Jardin des Tuileries and Jardin des Plantes in Paris and Monet’s garden in Giverny are my favourites.
Some gardens I want to visit – Jardin Majorelle in Marrakesh, Las Pozas in Mexico, Sacro Bosco in Italy and Hitachi Seaside Park in Japan.
I love gardens as much as I love forests. Both hold their own beauty – one a wild, untamed abundance, the other a carefully curated and personalized interpretation of nature’s wilderness. For me, gardens aren’t an attempt to tame nature, but rather a way to bring a piece of nature closer to us. I find that so beautiful.
What are you working on next?
I’m currently working on several ideas, all centered around my desire to foster deep connections in the physical world, away from algorithms and social media. My newsletter, ‘Heart to Heart,’ is the first step in this direction.
The dream is to keep creating while connecting with like-minded, passionate and creative individuals. I hope to travel more, explore different cultures and finally see the flowers I haven’t yet seen in real life. Ultimately, I want my practice to bring me closer to the land, living in harmony with nature, and in sync with the changing seasons.
Finally, as we are the Garden Museum, can you tell us about your relationship with gardening and nature?
I’ve always had a deep connection with gardening, and I’m fortunate to have a green thumb. Growing up, I used to take care of my mother’s garden, where I spent most of my time playing with plants and mud.
In my apartment in Delhi, I have a small balcony, and since I travel often for work, I’ve chosen to keep non-flowering plants like the Traveller’s palm, Philodendron selloum, Bamboo palm, Colocasia, Syngonium, Pencil cactus, Cordyline and Alocasia cucullata. While I’d love to grow flowers, I can’t commit to their care when I’m away.
Currently, I’m staying at my family home for a month, where I’ve planted seeds of a variety of flowers alongside the vegetables in my mother’s garden. I’m trying to create a layered mix of Sunflowers, Hollyhocks, Marigolds, Cosmos (white, pink, and chocolate), California poppies, Nasturtiums, Pansies and Icelandic poppies. The saplings are growing quickly, and it’s such a joy to witness their progress. I can’t wait to see them bloom into a colorful chaos this spring.
One of my dreams is to someday live in a small house by the water, with a huge garden of my own – growing both flowers and vegetables to share with my family.
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Find out more: imdadbarbhuyan.com
Follow Imdad on Instagram: @imdad_barbhuyan