Artist Bhaskara Rao Botcha is best-known for his lush and vibrant depictions of nature. Based in Hyderabad, he studied painting at the University of Hyderabad and the Andhra University in Visakhapatnam. For Bhaskar Rao, his artistic practice is an opportunity to reminisce about the many places he has visited and lived in. Though his early works depict street scenes and people, a large portion of his recent body of work is inspired by nature, with the “tree” being a subject he frequently explores through his paintings. He believes that trees are not only an essential component of human life and nature, but also serve as cultural and spiritual symbols that signify the virtues of giving and generosity. Bhaskara Rao’s connection to trees is rooted in his childhood experiences in Salur, a small town in Vizianagaram, Andhra Pradesh. He fondly remembers his father taking him to plant a mango tree in their farm of cashews and mangoes. Young Rao frequented the fields to see the mango tree grow, a journey that kindled his innocent and ever-growing love for nature.