Orchestra

by Nikheel Aphale

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This artwork is accompanied by an Authenticity Certificate.

All orders are insured for transit.

We ship worldwide.

Details

Size:	20 x 28 inches
Medium:	Inks on Paper
Year:	2022
Signature:	Bottom Right

Description

In this artwork, Nikheel Aphale shows the Devanagari letter ‘P’ and its barahkhadi variants (barahkhadi: 12 variants of combining vowels with consonants). The letter P is written in a contemporary style and its fellow variants (Pa, Pi, Pee, Pu, Poo and so on) are depicted to showcase how, together, they create a beautiful and melodious harmony, just like an euphonious orchestra. Incidentally, the Hindi word for orchestra - Vadyavrund, is also cleverly written in stylized calligraphy, in the central part of the artwork.

This artwork is part of the "Varnamala" series by Nikheel Aphale, who considers the Devanagari script to be his muse. Varnamala means "alphabet". Devanagari is an ancient Indian script in which Sanskrit, Hindi, Nepali, Marathi and some other languages are written. Nikheel draws parallels between the constitution of letters and human beings, through the lens of diversity, co-existence and togetherness. His artworks, inspired by and rooted in the beautiful Devanagari script, celebrate the ideals of unity, diversity, humanity and oneness, using letters as a metaphor. For instance, the Devanagari script allows one to write exactly how a word is spoken, reflecting honesty and purity of expression - values much appreciated in human beings. There is also no concept of upper case and lower case letters in the script. All letters are at the same level - no hierarchy, no discrimination in terms of position - perhaps an ideal to strive towards in human society too?

Description

In this artwork, Nikheel Aphale shows the Devanagari letter ‘P’ and its barahkhadi variants (barahkhadi: 12 variants of combining vowels with consonants). The letter P is written in a contemporary style and its fellow variants (Pa, Pi, Pee, Pu, Poo and so on) are depicted to showcase how, together, they create a beautiful and melodious harmony, just like an euphonious orchestra. Incidentally, the Hindi word for orchestra - Vadyavrund, is also cleverly written in stylized calligraphy, in the central part of the artwork.

This artwork is part of the "Varnamala" series by Nikheel Aphale, who considers the Devanagari script to be his muse. Varnamala means "alphabet". Devanagari is an ancient Indian script in which Sanskrit, Hindi, Nepali, Marathi and some other languages are written. Nikheel draws parallels between the constitution of letters and human beings, through the lens of diversity, co-existence and togetherness. His artworks, inspired by and rooted in the beautiful Devanagari script, celebrate the ideals of unity, diversity, humanity and oneness, using letters as a metaphor. For instance, the Devanagari script allows one to write exactly how a word is spoken, reflecting honesty and purity of expression - values much appreciated in human beings. There is also no concept of upper case and lower case letters in the script. All letters are at the same level - no hierarchy, no discrimination in terms of position - perhaps an ideal to strive towards in human society too?

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ABOUT Nikheel Aphale

Letters not only speak to, but entice calligraphy artist Nikheel Aphale, who believes in taking calligraphy beyond its conventional definition of “the art of beautiful handwriting.” Nikheel uses his own letters – akshars – as a means of expression. Using calligraphy, he creates art that is imperfect yet beautiful, with the texture of ink, the spaces, the overlapping letterforms and mingling strokes making his artworks a truly visual experience. The Devanagari script is Nikheel’s muse; he adores its traditional and spiritual roots, and being the script of his mother tongue, Marathi, he feels deeply connected to it.
Born in Mumbai in 1979, Nikheel 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 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.

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Details

Size:	20 x 28 inches
Medium:	Inks on Paper
Year:	2022
Signature:	Bottom Right

AUTHENTICITY

This artwork is accompanied by an Authenticity Certificate.

Returns

We accept returns within 7 days of delivery if the item reaches you in damaged condition.

CARE INSTRUCTIONS

Artworks should be displayed away from direct sunlight and breeze. To clean accumulated dust from a painting, use a soft, dry brush very lightly on the surface. Make sure there is no moisture on the bristles before touching the artwork. For repairing more severe damage, such as cracks or discolouration, it is best to seek help from a professional. Once a year, remove the artwork from the wall for a couple of days to let the wall breathe and avoid moisture accumulation.
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All orders are insured for transit.

We ship worldwide.

CARE INSTRUCTIONS

Artworks should be displayed away from direct sunlight and breeze. To clean accumulated dust from a painting, use a soft, dry brush very lightly on the surface. Make sure there is no moisture on the bristles before touching the artwork. For repairing more severe damage, such as cracks or discolouration, it is best to seek help from a professional. Once a year, remove the artwork from the wall for a couple of days to let the wall breathe and avoid moisture accumulation.

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