Haunted by the Same Monsters

Welcome to my whimsical, vibrant, and slightly bizarre world.

I have always been fascinated by myths, folklore, and the strange creatures that cultures create to explain fear. In this series, I turn that lens toward the present day.

'Haunted by the Same Monsters' is a contemporary take on the dark forces that shape our lives today. Media outrage, surveillance, manipulation, depression, hatred, and mass hysteria shed their disguises and emerge as monsters.

Each creature is both absurd and familiar. They are reflections of systems, beliefs, and behaviours that surround us—and often live within us.

1) Saffron Ghouls

The Eater Of Common Sense.

Where they gather, common sense rots.

2) The Broadcast Beast

The bringer of bad news.

Makes you unable to think without fear.

3) The Edit King

Creator of the Narrative. Consumes ‘meaningful’ stories

and regurgitates toxic narratives.

4) Mr. Bones

A common visitor.

He does not hunt the dead.

He harvests the unlived.

5) The Impregnators

The lust trap.

They may feel nice at first but may have other intentions. 

Between Satire and Myth

My work exists somewhere between social commentary, folklore, and dream logic. I use humour, symbolism, and surreal imagery to explore the invisible forces that influence how we think, feel, and relate to one another.

The monsters may appear playful at first glance, but beneath their bright colours and strange forms lie deeper questions about the age we inhabit.

Art as Wellness

I began painting these creatures as a way of making sense of the world around me.

They emerged during a time when the noise felt overwhelming—when outrage, fear, division, and confusion seemed to be everywhere.

Rather than turning away, I felt compelled to look directly at these forces and give them a face.

Each monster became a vessel for something I was trying to understand, confront, or release.

The process brought an unexpected sense of clarity. By painting these creatures, I could separate myself from them. I could study them, question them, and ultimately reclaim some power over them.

These works are not polished, industry-perfect illustrations. They were never meant to be.

They were created with urgency, curiosity, and a genuine need to process the reality of our times. Every brushstroke carries the energy of that exploration.

For me, this series became a form of art therapy—a visual dialogue with the fears, narratives, and forces that shape modern life.

Sometimes, in order to confront a monster, you must first be willing to imagine it. And sometimes, in order to defeat it, you must paint it.

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Roshni Ali is a Goa-based multidisciplinary artist obsessed with the strange, the symbolic, and the stories we tell ourselves.

Her work sits somewhere between mythology, social commentary, dreamscapes, and psychological exploration.

Through monsters, folklore, humour, and surreal imagery, she explores the forces that shape our inner and outer worlds.

Rather than offering answers, her work asks questions.

Why do we believe what we believe?

What fears are running the show?

Which monsters belong to society—and which ones live inside us?

This collection is part of her archives from 2021–2023, a period spent translating the chaos of the times into creatures, symbols, and visual myths. These works were not created to decorate walls. They were created to understand the world, wrestle with it, and occasionally laugh at it.

If a painting leaves you slightly uncomfortable, curious, or questioning something you once took for granted, it has done its job.

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For collaborations, commissions, exhibitions, and strange conversations:theroshniali@gmail.com |nstagram: @theroshniali