“Everything we want to remember, we must assign an image.”
from the book “Un puñado de flechas” by María Gainza
In the new series “Memories of India”, Julia Romano transforms the landscape into a visual biography, a container of lived experiences—a space where every cut and every visual fragment becomes the trace of a memory that must not vanish. Inspired by the artist’s personal experience during her stay in India in 2023, each piece brings together a plurality of images, impressions, and sensations that merge to create an intimate and vibrant universe.
Far from being limited to the literal depiction of geography, these compositions stand as travel logbooks capable of encapsulating moments of wonder and discovery on a single plane.
By overlaying architectural, natural, and symbolic elements, the artist reveals the multiplicity of stories that hold the resonance of experience, emotion, and reflection.
Beyond static snapshots, these collages are personal archives and dynamic compositions—layered with impressions, symbols, and details that unfold slowly for the viewer. They reflect how memory is often nonlinear, and deeply sensory. Each work is a visual album that merges the natural and constructed worlds to offer a deeper, introspective encounter with place and time.
The juxtaposition of freehand black line drawings with photographic collages of flora and architecture brings a unique beauty and duality to each image.
In these works, monuments like the Taj Mahal move beyond postcard representations becoming profound repositories of layered memories and cultural resonance.. They become living sites—imbued with Romano’s perception, admiration, and quiet moments of awe. Her unique art invites viewers to journey beyond surface impressions, revealing the intricate tapestry of emotions and experiences emerging from our relation with places and also highlighting the symbiotic relationship between us and environment.
Her collages invite us to lose ourselves among the trees, pillars, shadows, and rivers—to engage with the ebb and flow of landscape as something both external and deeply internal.
“The act of contemplating these landscapes is a journey in itself. Everything converges to remind us that a landscape is not confined to its superficial appearance but is, above all, a place intersected by the unique gaze of the observer.” shares Romano.
These landscapes highlight the intimate relationship between memory and image: the digital collages function as true travel notebooks that bring us back to that place where memories, cultural identity, sensations, and learning converge.
Ultimately, this work invites us to reflect on how composing a landscape is also about composing our own story—a visual biography that transforms individual experience into a collective testimony that engages with the immensity of the world.
“These digital collages transcend conventional landscapes, transforming them into visual biographies that weave together personal and universal narratives. Each piece, inspired by Julia Romano’s 2023 journey through India, blends architectural marvel and natural elements. I personally love the element wherein she has interlaced the collages with black free hand drawing.” shares Jalpa H Vithalani, Creative Director, Cosmic Heart Gallery.
Artist Julia Romano
Julia Romano (b. 1978, Argentina) is a visionary artist whose digital collages fuse personal narrative with expansive landscapes. Educated at the National University of Córdoba, she has gained international acclaim for her evocative works that blend photography, drawing, and collage. Her art transforms familiar scenes into rich tapestries of memory and meaning, inviting viewers into a dialogue between the self and the environment. Romano’s work is celebrated in prestigious collections worldwide, offering a unique lens on the interplay between place, memory, and identity.
Her art invites us to see landscapes as living memories, each layer a testament to the beauty of personal journey. Through her vision, we find that the essence of a place is not just seen, but felt, resonating deeply with our collective spirit.
Romano’s collages transform ordinary landscapes into extraordinary reflections of our inner worlds, interweaving lush foliage and natural elements to remind us of our bond with the environment. Each piece is a vibrant dialogue between memory, nature, and imagination, inviting us to rediscover the beauty around and within us. Each piece serves as a reminder of the delicate balance between human experience and the natural world.
The Cosmic Heart Gallery
Cosmic Heart Gallery
A Legacy of Art, Vision, and Impact
A sanctuary of creativity in South Bombay, Cosmic Heart Gallery is a space where art transcends time, culture, and geography. Founded by Jalpa H Vithalani in 2012, the gallery has curated over 300 transformative exhibitions, fostering artistic excellence and global cultural exchange.
Among its landmark initiatives is ‘Eye of the Tiger’, a powerful confluence of art and conservation. Conceptualized by Jalpa H Vithalani, this project broughttogether 200 rural artists from Sawai Madhopur to create 100 breathtaking works, advocating for tiger conservation and sustainable livelihoods. The exhibition has gained national recognition, travelling to The Indian Museum, Kolkata, for its historic 210-year celebration, where Jalpa’s own evocative tiger paintings were showcased and marked her debut as an artist alongside these masterpieces.
Beyond exhibitions, Cosmic Heart Gallery is a movement, collaborating with institutions like J.J. School of Art, Iran Culture House, and the Consulate General of Argentina, and representing India at prestigious forums such as the United Nations and Art Bahrain Across Borders under the patronage of Her Royal Highness Princess Sabeeka Bint Ibrahim Al Khalifa. As a member of the special Task Force of Arts for BPW International, Jalpa continues to foster peace and intercultural understanding across 100 countries.
Each exhibition is a meticulously curated experience, breaking barriers of language and geography to foster a universal dialogue through art. With an unwavering belief in art as a force of transformation, the gallery continues to shape narratives, elevate spaces, and inspire generations.
Here, art is not just displayed—it is experienced, celebrated, and woven into the fabric of history.
