Created during Gangwani’s early high school years, Don’t Weep, Be Devious reflects a moment of exploration and rebellion within a classroom assignment. Tasked with choosing an artist to reference, Gangwani selected Pablo Picasso and drew inspiration from his Weeping Woman series. While the color palette and fragmented imagery echo Picasso’s influence, this piece challenges the idea of sorrow and concealment. Rather than hiding the face in pain, Gangwani’s figure stares outward, the imagery is bright, bold, direct, and layered with hidden meaning.
The painting pays homage to Picasso while introducing Gangwani’s own point of view. There are subtle elements that hint at flags, identity, and internal struggle, all colliding in a style that was new to him at the time. It marked a turning point in his creative process...a challenge to the rules, and a push to see how far he could take his ideas.
