For Shigil, art isn’t about choosing between tradition and modernity—it’s about letting them dance together. With roots in Kerala’s ancient mural painting and a creative compass influenced by global cinema, his work effortlessly bridges the intricate with the emotional, the classical with the contemporary.
Shigil’s influences span far and wide. “It’s hard to point to a single reason,” he says. “Hollywood’s storytelling shaped the way I see composition, but my education in Indian mural art taught me how to build with detail and symbolism.” That duality—of precise traditional technique and sweeping cinematic narrative—runs through all of Shigil’s creations, from expressive celebrity portraits to reimagined film posters.
His process is deeply intuitive. Ideas often spark from novels, iconic scenes, or faces that carry emotional weight. Using Photoshop, Shigil layers texture and tone, often working in monochrome to amplify mood. “The fewer colours I use, the more the emotion stands out,” he reflects. That restraint, combined with his muralist’s eye for bold shapes, makes his digital works feel both timeless and visceral