About the Exhibition
Artisera
Nikheel Aphale’s art practice is anchored in calligraphy, wherein he embraces the Devanagari script to create evocative, contemporary works of art. The Devanagari script is his muse; he adores its traditional and spiritual roots, and being the script of his mother tongue, Marathi, he feels deeply connected to it. Fascinated by telling a visual story solely through the relationship of letters, Nikheel realized very early on in his experiments, that unlike Japanese, Persian, or Chinese calligraphy, which are internationally renowned, Devanagari was not celebrated in equal measure. The realization served as an impetus for Nikheel to explore the native script as an art form.
In Nirakar Aakar (i.e. formless form), the artist engages with significant yet intangible concepts of divinity, spirituality, and humanity; creating potent compositions that are visual interpretations of human faith, human existence, and society at large. The Divinity series is a captivating exploration of religious and mythological stories and verses. Devoid of commonplace depictions, Nikheel captures the essence and symbolism of the ancient myths and mantras he recalls from his childhood. The Spirituality series transcends theological boundaries to convey a universal message of spiritual advancement, compassion, prosperity, freedom, and harmony of all beings. The artworks serve as a poignant reminder of our shared existence and the importance of extending kindness and care to every creature on this planet. In the Humanity series, Nikheel celebrates the “Varnamala”, or the alphabet, drawing parallels between Devanagari's characteristics and the ideals humans should aspire to - such as equality, with no concept of upper or lowercase letters, togetherness, through diacritic marks or ‘matras’, and coexistence, expressed through conjuncts or ‘jodakshars’. The artworks celebrate unity, diversity, humanity, and oneness, using the letters as a metaphor.
Like the letters that are always in flux - coming together, entwining and in movement - Nikheel’s practice too, is not static. He is constantly innovating and pushing the boundaries to take calligraphy beyond its conventional definition of “the art of beautiful handwriting”.
The Artist Speaks
I was introduced to the Devanagari script when I was born. I used to speak, read, listen, and think in my mother tongue, Marathi. Till date, I communicate and understand things better in my mother script. Devanagari is my comfort zone, my companion, my muse.
- Nikheel Aphale
As a calligrapher, I realized that Arabic, Latin, Japanese and Chinese calligraphy are well-known and familiar, but Devanagari doesn’t really feature in the world landscape. I am driven by a desire to showcase her potential on the global platform. And it is this passion that drives me to explore my connection with this beautiful Indian script through calligraphy.
- Nikheel Aphale
Of Fluidity and Evolution
Artisera
Nikheel’s artworks are centred around letters, or akshars. Their mesmeric interplay, defined by measured brushstrokes, textures, movement, and balance, indicate his prowess. Though minimalist in nature, each akshar, each frame conjures drama. By focusing on how each letter is portrayed, Nikheel is able to stir an emotion in the viewer or reveal a layered meaning through his storytelling. Besides using ink, watercolours, and acrylic, Nikheel adopts myriad techniques and unconventional tools such as toothbrushes, sponge, bank cards, feathers, and coconut husk, to explore new ways of expressing his artistic voice.
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The Big Joint Family, Set of 42 Nikheel Aphale
Acrylics and Ink on Curi... | 10 x 7 inches eachNikheel Aphale -
Balance 02, Set of 4 (Lokah Samastah) Nikheel Aphale
Acrylic on Paper | 40 x 28.5 inches eachNikheel Aphale
Artist Profile
Artisera
Nikheel Aphale, a calligrapher born in Mumbai in 1979, has nurtured a fascination with alphabets since childhood. He graduated from LS Raheja School of Arts, Mumbai in applied arts and later obtained a post-graduation in graphic design from the National Institute of Design (NID), Ahmedabad. Under the mentorship of Brody Neuenschwander, he has completed a two-year study exploring the creative dimensions of text art.
In addition to his roles as a TEDx speaker, educator, and book cover designer, Nikheel has had the privilege of speaking at various calligraphy events in India. He has also participated in prestigious art events such as the Auroville Art Residency in India, the One Asia Project in Taipei, and the online exhibition "A Brush with Silence" in Bruges, Belgium. Furthermore, Nikheel's work has been showcased in prominent art events in South Korea, including the World Calligraphy Biennale, the Cheongju Jikji World Calligraphy Exhibition, and the Asian Calligraphy Festival. In 2023, his work received recognition by being long listed for the Jackson Painting Prize. Nikheel's art and interviews have been featured in renowned publications such as juried issues of Letter Arts Review in the USA, Typism books, Vogue, Platform, Kyoorius, POOL, NDTV Television, as well as numerous blogs and websites. The artist lives and works in India.
