About the Exhibition
Artisera
Aksharscape, a solo exhibition of contemporary calligraphy by Nikheel Aphale, was held at Bikaner House, New Delhi from May 28 - June 1, 2025. This is an online exhibit of the same body of work.
Rooted in calligraphy, Nikheel Aphale’s art practice transforms the Devanagari script into a vehicle for evocative, abstract works of art. For Nikheel, Devanagari is more than a writing system—it is a muse, a cultural emblem, and a personal heritage. As the script of his mother tongue, Marathi, it holds profound emotional and spiritual significance. Rich in historical gravitas, Devanagari adorns ancient manuscripts and temple carvings, serving as the script for multiple languages such as Sanskrit, Hindi, Nepali, and Marathi. Yet, it has remained largely unexplored within contemporary art discourse. This cognisance has inspired Nikheel to dedicate himself to exploring the script as an art form to unravel its limitless potential.
In Aksharscape, Nikheel envisions a conceptual landscape composed of Devanagari letters, where the letters transcend their functional role as carriers of language to become evocative forms—inviting the viewer to experience memory, emotion, introspection, and yearning. The script shifts from communication to contemplation, emerging as a medium of self-expression.
Nikheel’s work offers a compelling alchemy of the intangible and the tangible. He reimagines divinity, mythology, spirituality and prayer through an abstract lens, refraining from the use of overt religious iconography. His work also engages with themes of humanity, social harmony and equality—concepts he explores by drawing analogies between human society and the egalitarian structure of the Devanagari script.
At the heart of Nikheel’s art are the letters themselves—akshars—elevated to visual protagonists. Their dynamic interplay, shaped by texture, rhythm, and balance, indicate his prowess. What may initially appear as gestural or asemic marks slowly unfolds into a layered narrative. By stripping away legibility, Nikheel allows text to transcend its utilitarian function and assume an abstract, meditative presence—bridging the seen and the unseen, the spoken and the felt.
While his primary media include ink, watercolour, and acrylic on paper, Nikheel frequently incorporates unconventional tools to disrupt the confines of traditional calligraphy, lending his work a tactile, unpredictable quality that reflects both experimentation and spontaneity. His signature aesthetic—monochromatic palettes, filled counter-forms, intricate repeated texts, and the strategic use of negative space—exudes a quiet power. The act of creation itself becomes a spiritual ritual, requiring a delicate balance of precision, fluidity, material behaviour, and acceptance of serendipity.
- The Artist Speaks -
There is a saying in Marathi—'सुंदर हस्ताक्षर हाच खरा दागिना'—which translates to 'beautiful handwriting is like a piece of jewellery'. Unknowingly, I started my artistic journey by writing such quotes on the school blackboard. Inspired by my mother’s handwriting and title letterings in Marathi plays and Hindi movies, I began to see alphabets as more than just building blocks for words. That is how my everlasting love affair with letters began.
- Nikheel Aphale
- Installation Views -
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Marks of Devotion
Acrylic and Inks on Wasl... | 35.5 x 25 inchesSold -
Shiva Shakti 03
Inks on Canson Paper | 38 x 15 inches -
Enlightenment 02 (Asato Ma Sadgamaya)
Inks on Indian Handmade ... | 16.5 x 12.5 inches each, Set of 3Sold -
Pulse of Life (Sarve Santu Niramaya)
Fine Liner and Ink on Gr... | 10.5 x 8 inches each, Set of 4 -
Tail of Devotion (Hanuman Chalisa)
Acrylic and Inks on Paper | 120 x 84 inches, Set of 6 -
Visarjan at Chowpatty
Acrylic and Inks on Paper | 28 x 40 inchesSold -
Lambodar
Acrylic and Ink on Archi... | 60 x 44 inchesSold -
Savitu: Source of Radiance (Gayatri Mantra)
Acrylic and Inks on Cans... | 74.5 x 24.5 inches -
I like telling stories through my art. Memories and ponderings that are etched in my mind from the years gone by, find their way into my creations. From Ganpati Visarjan at Chowpatty, to experiencing the spirit of chawls in my neighbourhood, from picnics in the beautiful parks of Delhi, to my internal reflections on humanity—they all become part of my visual narratives. And through it all, Devanagari letters serve as the vehicle to carry my stories forward.
- Nikheel Aphale
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Unbound (Asato Ma Sadgamaya)
Inks on Paper | 9.5 x 22 inches each, Set of 3 -
Interconnected 03 (Lokah Samastah)
Acrylic and Inks on Indi... | 41.5 x 31.5 inches (framed), Set of 6 -
Navdurga
Acrylic and Inks on Paper | 72 x 28.5 inches (framed), Set of 9Sold -
Setu
Inks on Korean Paper | 56.5 x 15 inches -
Sankat Mochan
Acrylic and Inks on Kore... | 15 x 56.5 inches -
Immersed in Sight
Acrylic and Inks on Cans... | 76 x 34.5 inchesSold
- Artist Biography -
Artisera
Nikheel Aphale, a calligrapher born in Mumbai in 1979, has nurtured a fascination with the alphabet 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 an artist, 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 and the Asian Calligraphy Festival. He received the ‘Excellence in Calligraphy’ award at the Jikji International Calligraphy Exhibition in South Korea. In 2023, his work received recognition by being long-listed for the Jackson Painting Prize. Nikheel’s interviews and work have been featured in various international platforms and prominent publications such as juried issues of Letter Arts Review in the USA, Typism books, Vogue, Juggernaut, Platform, Kyoorius, POOL, and NDTV. Nikheel’s work is part of the permanent display in India’s new Parliament Building. He lives and works in Bangalore, India.
