What We Keep

Date: 2016
Medium: Acrylic, mixed media with paper, mirror, marble powder on wood panels
Dimensions: Two panels, each 20 × 24 inches

Collector’s Notes

Composition

What We Keep unfolds across two connected wood panels, creating a rhythmic dialogue rather than a single, closed statement. Interlinked circular forms move across the surface like constellations or strands of beads, evoking continuity, association, and flow. Each circle holds smaller rings within it, suggesting layers of recollection — memories nested inside memories — while the dual-panel format reinforces the idea that memory itself is never singular, but relational and cumulative.

Color & Light

The chromatic structure is intentionally vertical and symbolic. Lighter, airier hues rise above the rings, carrying a sense of uplift, clarity, and warmth. Below, deeper and darker tones anchor the composition, representing the emotional weight of memories we strive to move beyond. The subtle gradation between these zones mirrors the emotional work of remembrance: not erasing the past, but allowing lightness to rise above heaviness.

Medium & Texture

Working on wood panels introduces a sense of permanence and grounding, echoing the lasting nature of memory itself. Layers of acrylic, paper, marble powder, and mirror fragments create a richly tactile surface. The mirrors offer fleeting reflections — moments where the viewer catches themselves within the work — reinforcing the idea that memory is always personal, always filtered through the self. The textures feel built-up and lived-in, much like the emotional residue of experience.

Style & Story

Blending abstraction with conceptual symbolism, What We Keep explores memory as both gift and burden. The linked circles reference neural pathways, emotional associations, and the way one recollection effortlessly triggers another. Inspired in part by reflections on hyperthymesia — the inability to forget — the work raises a quiet but profound question: not what we remember, but what we choose to carry forward.

Emotional Connection

This piece resonates with anyone who has felt both comforted and constrained by memory. It offers permission — gently, without judgment — to release what no longer serves, while honoring the moments that continue to nourish the heart. The necklace-like structure of the circles suggests intimacy and continuity, evoking family, love, loss, and shared histories held close.

Context & Significance

Created in 2016, What We Keep reflects a mature phase in the artist’s practice, where emotional introspection meets refined material language. For collectors, the diptych format enhances its presence and versatility, allowing the work to hold space both visually and philosophically. It stands as a contemplative piece — one that deepens with time — reminding us that memory, when held with intention, can be a source of warmth rather than weight.

Message from the Artist

When I created What We Keep, I was thinking deeply about memory — how effortlessly it connects moments, people, and emotions across time. A scent, a sound, a fleeting image can suddenly transport us decades back, opening doors we didn’t even realize were still there.

I was moved by the idea that memory can be both a blessing and a burden. While our happy moments keep loved ones and past joys alive within us, painful memories can linger longer than we wish. This work is my reflection on that balance — on the importance of choosing what we carry forward.

The connected circles represent how memories link together, like beads on a necklace, forming the story of our lives. The lighter tones above them are my wish for you — that positivity rises, that joy stays close, and that the memories you keep continue to warm your heart rather than weigh it down.

When you purchase a Sacred Heartwork, you receive:

✦ The original artwork, signed and sealed with intention

✦ A Certificate of Authenticity

✦ A handwritten note from Rashmi

✦ The story behind the work — its inspiration, symbolism, and message

✦ Premium shipping & packaging

✦ Complimentary digital mock-up of the art hanging in your space

✦ Optional framing & hanging kit