For calligrapher Nikheel Aphale, the word is art

Nikheel Aphale’s art practice is anchored in calligraphy, wherein he embraces the Devanagari script to create evocative, abstract works of art. The script is his muse, his cultural identity; being the script of his mother tongue, Marathi, he feels deeply connected to its sounds and visuals.

‘Aksharscape’, his solo exhibition that goes on display at Bikaner House next week, is an artistic conceptual landscape of letters from the Devanagari script. Here, letters go beyond their linguistic purpose, becoming unusual forms and evoking memories, emotions, reflections, and wishful thinking as a form of self-expression.

“Nikheel’s work is fresh and contemporary, while still being strongly rooted in Indian culture, and we believe he is an artist to watch out for in the years to come,” says Varun Backliwal, founder of Artisera, which is presenting the show.

When Mumbai-based Nikheel started practising calligraphy seriously in 2006, it dawned on him that unlike Japanese, Persian, or Chinese calligraphy, which are internationally renowned, Devanagari, despite being used for several languages such as Sanskrit, Hindi, Nepali and Marathi, and being featuring extensively in historical manuscripts and carvings, was never fully developed as a fine art form. The realisation served as an impetus for the artist to single-mindedly explore the ancient script as an art form and showcase its artistic potential globally. In 2020, his debut solo exhibition ‘Sacred Strokes’ sold out within six hours.

Nikheel Aphale’s artwork translates the intangible into the tangible. He reimagines divinity, mythological stories, and spiritual prayers through abstract interpretations and symbolism. His compositions aren’t overtly religious, aligning with the modern palate of discerning art connoisseurs. In his art, the letters (or akshars) take centre stage. Their interplay indicates Nikheel’s artistic prowess.

While Nikheel, whose art is part of the permanent display in India’s new Parliament Building, mostly works with ink, watercolours, and acrylic, he also uses unconventional tools such as toothbrushes, sponges, bank cards, feathers, and coconut husk, to explore new ways of expressing his artistic voice, and taking calligraphy beyond its conventional definition of “the art of beautiful handwriting”. His predominantly black and white compositions are minimalist and striking, featuring certain distinctive styles such as repeated tiny texts, filled counter forms, and tasteful use of white space.

Nikheel’s work has been showcased in prominent art events in South Korea, including the World Calligraphy Biennale and the Asian Calligraphy Festival. In 2023, his work received recognition by being long-listed for the Jackson Painting Prize.

From May 28 to June 1

Arts