Painting Possibility: Daljeet Kaur Uses Art for Change
Through imagery and storytelling, Daljeet uses artistic expression to spark conversations, challenge norms, and imagine solutions for a more just and sustainable world. We sat down and interviewed Daljeet, who is our featured Eco.Artist this year:
Q. Can you start by telling us what inspires you?
Daljeet: Nature inspires me the most and through art, I’m able to express what I want to say and contribute to building a more positive, just society. Art helps to draw attention to relevant issues that we want to find solutions for and want to talk about them with others.
Q. How can art be used to inspire change?
Daljeet: Art is an important form of expression and storytelling has inspired people for ages even during the time when scripts were not invented. The cave paintings are the testament of how Art was used in the prehistoric period to communicate people's lifestyle and leave a history of their existence which otherwise would have been lost. Art can be a powerful tool for change as it presents complex situations in a simplified way through the technique of visualization. Sometimes art also questions stereotypes and delves into topics that are considered heresy otherwise. People interpret art in their own way and pick up a nuanced message that resonates more with them but often aligns with the artist’s perspective.
Q. Can you share a time that your art has made an impact?
Daljeet: I made a series of paintings in 2015, on finding solutions to the problem of climate change and how collaborative consumption under the concept of degrowth can be effective. Those paintings worked as a good precursor for a discussion with practitioners around decoupling consumption with development measurement /GDP and we ended up with a policy brief that was shared with several decision makers.
Q. Is there anything else you want to share?
Daljeet: It is believed that a picture is worth a thousand words and portrays several emotions through one piece, it just depends on how it is perceived.
Thank you so much, Daljeet for speaking with us!
Take a look at Daljeet’s incredibly powerful pieces here. If you want to receive some of Daljeet’s artwork, and support Eco.Logic, check out how you can do both by becoming a member of Eco.Logic: https://www.ecologicprograms.org/membership
The Defenders of Protectors
This Madhubani-style painting pays tribute to the Chipko Movement, where women in India hugged trees to prevent deforestation. In Daljeet’s powerful rendering, women and trees stand as protectors of life — rooted in resistance and hope.
Decaying to Survive
A watercolor capturing the quiet resilience of a hollowing tree in the UK. As the tree decays, it recycles its own nutrients — a self-sustaining process that shows how nature adapts and survives through transformation.