Kashmir has long been celebrated through its landscapes, traditions and distinctive cultural identity. Now, Asian Paints, in collaboration with St+art Foundation and XXL Collective, is bringing those stories to life on one of the Valley’s most recognisable symbols, the shikara.
Through Aks-e-Kashmir, 40 shikaras on Dal Lake have been transformed into floating works of art, creating what is essentially a moving art experience across the waters of Srinagar. The initiative is designed to celebrate Kashmir not just for its natural beauty, but for the people, traditions, craftsmanship and stories that have shaped its identity.
Four Themes, 40 Stories
The idea behind Aks-e-Kashmir comes from “aks,” meaning reflection. The project uses the waters of Dal Lake as a natural canvas, allowing colour, art and design to interact with the changing light and landscape.
The 40 shikaras have been divided into four thematic journeys, with 10 boats dedicated to each theme. Contemporary artists Owais Ahmed, Sheehij Kaul, Zahra Javed and Shweta Sharma have each interpreted a different aspect of Kashmir's identity.
Crafts of Kashmir, led by Owais Ahmed, draws from the region's rich craft traditions. Flora, Fauna & Ecology, by Sheehij Kaul, explores Kashmir's natural environment and biodiversity. Calligraphy & Culture, by Zahra Javed, looks at the region's artistic and cultural expressions, while Folklore, by Shweta Sharma, brings its stories and traditional narratives into the visual language of the boats.
But the transformation goes beyond simply painting the shikaras. Each boat has been designed as a complete spatial experience, incorporating colours, wood finishes, fabrics, upholstery and furnishings that complement the artwork. Asian Paints' decorative and furnishing solutions have been used across the experience, making each shikara a distinct artistic environment.
The project also builds on Asian Paints' earlier Kashmir-focused initiatives, including its Aks-e-Kashmir Shade Guide and special-edition Apex Ultima Kashmir Pack, which drew inspiration from the Valley's colours, architecture and textures.
For Asian Paints, the initiative is part of a wider effort to celebrate India's regional identities through colour and design. The brand has previously used familiar cultural symbols and public spaces to create region-specific artistic experiences.
With Aks-e-Kashmir, however, the canvas is constantly moving. The shikaras carry the artwork across Dal Lake, allowing visitors and residents to experience Kashmir's stories in a setting that is itself deeply connected to the Valley's heritage.
The initiative is also part of a larger set of public art projects unveiled by Asian Paints, St+art Foundation and XXL Collective in Srinagar, including the 10th edition of Donate A Wall, which features an 11,500-square-foot mural at the University of Kashmir's Allama Iqbal Library.
Through Aks-e-Kashmir, Asian Paints is therefore doing more than adding colour to Dal Lake. It is using art as a way to make Kashmir's living heritage visible, moving and part of everyday life—one shikara, one story and one reflection at a time.