“सुंदर हस्ताक्षर हाच खरा दागिना!” (Beautiful handwriting is a real piece of jewellery). Unknowingly, I started my artistic journey while writing such quotes on the school blackboard. Inspired by my mother’s handwriting, title letterings of Marathi plays and Hindi movies, later studying typography and calligraphy in colleges, I started viewing alphabets beyond words. Exposure to international calligraphy and learning under renowned artist Brody Neuenschwander determined to pursue Devanagari script as artistic medium.

 

I am Nikheel Aphale, a calligraphy artist from India, uses Devanagari script in abstract paintings. Deeply connected to its sounds and visuals since birth, Devanagari represents my cultural identity. Used for languages like Sanskrit, Hindi, Marathi, and Nepali this ancient script, historically featured in manuscripts and carvings, was never fully developed as a fine art form. My work seeks to showcase its artistic potential globally. By peeling away the convention, I reveal its beauty by modulating the letter’s anatomy, imperfect marks emphasising visual impact over legibility—inviting layered meanings and abstractions with universal appeal.

 

My paintings tell stories about divinity, spirituality, and humanity, inspired by the Nirakar Aakar (formless form) translating intangible into tangible. The Divinity series reimagines deities and mythological stories, while the Spirituality series conveys universal messages of compassion through visual interpretations and symbolism. The Humanity series draws parallel between Devanagari grammar and society, celebrating coexistence and harmony through features like barahkhadi, conjuncts, the absence of silent letters, etc.

 

My predominantly black and white works feature signature styles like repeated tiny texts, coloured counter forms, and sublime use of white space. I primarily work with ink and paper, incorporating unconventional tools like toothbrushes, coconut husk, and bank cards. The creative process involves balancing stability, ink viscosity, and surface texture while embracing the unpredictability, risks, and happy accidents that make each creation a spiritual experience.