Sohan Qadri (1932–2011) was a pivotal Indian painter, poet, and yogi, who lived and worked between India, Denmark, and Canada. His internationally acclaimed practice was deeply rooted in the search for Sunyuta, or the primordial void. His spiritual foundation stemmed at the age of seven from an introduction to a convergence of traditions of Sufi and Hindu mysticism, laying the groundwork for his artistic language. Qadri’s spiritual engagement encouraged him to transcend traditional boundaries, creating a minimalist and abstract aesthetic. His style is characterized by sweeping, saturated compositions that simultaneously achieve an atmospheric and tactical presence. He utilizes thick, handmade paper, abandoning the paintbrush in favor of serrated tools to create perforations that scar the surface. This technique allowed for vibrant watercolors and dyes to saturate the paper’s fibers, giving the work a three dimensional quality emitting an atmospheric and meditative energy. Qadri’s work is functional, serving as yantras that allow  the viewer to use it as a guide for meditation. His artistic process was equally vital to him as his innovative and spiritual aesthetic. The involved process of treating the paper and applying vibrant color in itself became a repetitive, meditative ritual, further exemplifying the importance of his philosophies. A two-time recipient of the Lalit Kala Akademi National Award, Qadri’s work is held in prestigious global collections including The Metropolitan Museum of Art, The British Museum, and the National Gallery of Modern Art, New Delhi. He is widely celebrated for his innovative "scarring" of heavy handmade paper, a process that transforms the two-dimensional surface into a three-dimensional site of meditative energy.