10 Questions with Bhagyashri Khandare

Bhagyashri Khandare is a self-taught artist who found her artistic voice after completing her architecture studies. While architecture laid a strong foundation for her understanding of form and structure, it was in art that she discovered true freedom and fulfillment. Bhagyashri specializes in stippling, a labor-intensive technique that involves creating images with millions of tiny dots. Her journey began during her architecture studies when she sought ways to bring texture and dimension to her work. Over time, she honed her skills and embraced abstraction, crafting works that explore chaos, contrast, and coexistence. Bhagyashri's art is both minimalistic and complex, often taking weeks or even months to complete. Her unique style has garnered attention for its meditative quality and intricate detail. She has also been mentioned in the Artling curated gallery in Singapore. Based in Satara, Maharashtra, she continues to push the boundaries of her craft, offering archival giclée prints that reflect her dedication to quality and artistic expression.

ekvarny.com | @ekvarny

ARTIST STATEMENT

Through the intricate process of stippling, Bhagyashri Khandare transforms millions of dots into compelling narratives. Her work is rooted in chaos and abstraction, reflecting a profound exploration of duality and contrast. Inspired by the world around her, Bhagyashri is fascinated by the coexistence of opposing forces—light and dark, order and chaos. Her art reveals this tension and balance, inviting viewers to experience the depth within simplicity. Each piece is a testament to patience and precision, as the meticulous placement of dots forms a delicate yet bold composition. With a focus on contemporary abstract and geometric art, she challenges perceptions and evokes emotions through minimalism and complexity.

Gaze series 1, pen and ink, 7x5 in, 2023 © Bhagyashri Khandare

INTERVIEW

What inspired you to transition from architecture to becoming a full-time artist?

Hello to all the readers! I'm Ar. Bhagyashri Khandare, living in Satara, India, and born in 1997. I graduated with a B.Arch from Shivaji University, and my journey from architecture to becoming a full-time artist was one of self-discovery and passion. While I enjoyed studying architecture and appreciated its structured approach, I realized it offered more than just a single career path. The creative aspects of architecture sparked my interest, but I craved more freedom in my expression. Art became my outlet for this. I now create under my artist name, "Ekvarny." I found immense fulfillment in exploring abstract contemporary styles, experimenting with stippling techniques, and creating pieces that convey a sense of concepts and contrast.
This passion for unique and inspiring art ultimately led me to embrace my calling as a full-time artist. Today, I draw upon the precision and discipline learned from architecture, blending it with the fluidity of artistic expression to create pieces that are both structured and free-spirited. This journey has allowed me to grow not just as an artist but also as an individual, finding a balance between my love for design and my need for creative freedom. Every artwork is a testament to my journey, from structured blueprints to fluid, expressive forms.

How did you first discover the stippling technique, and what drew you to it as your primary form of expression?

I first discovered the stippling technique while studying architecture. I was searching for ways to add more texture to my drawings, and that's when I came across this unique method. Stippling involves creating images using millions of tiny dots made with pen and ink, and I found it fascinating. The technique allowed me to introduce intricate details and subtle gradients, which brought a new level of depth to my work. I began practicing extensively, and the more I engaged with it, the more I fell in love with the process. Over time, it became my primary form of expression, allowing me to convey complex concepts and contrasts in a distinctive, intricate style.
What truly drew me to stippling was the patience and precision it demanded, as it mirrored my own approach to creativity. The technique has become an extension of my artistic voice, helping me translate complex emotions and themes into visual narratives that invite viewers to look closer and appreciate the finer details.

Shatterbeauty, pen and ink, 11x14 in, 2021 © Bhagyashri Khandare

Can you describe your process of creating art with millions of tiny dots? How do you stay focused and patient throughout?

In stippling art, my process involves careful planning and an immense amount of patience. I begin by sketching the basic outline of the piece, which serves as a guide. Then, I start adding dots one by one, slowly building up the texture, shading, and depth. Depending on the size and complexity of the artwork, this process can take anywhere from a few hours to several weeks or even months for highly detailed pieces. Each dot is placed deliberately to create subtle gradients and intricate patterns, making the artwork come to life.
Staying focused and patient throughout the process is key. I find that the repetitive nature of stippling allows me to enter a meditative state, where I can completely immerse myself in the artwork. It's almost therapeutic, and it helps me stay centered. Mastering this technique required countless hours of practice, but it has reshaped my artistic journey, allowing me to express concepts and emotions in a uniquely detailed and precise manner. Ultimately, the process is not just about creating an image but about building a connection between each dot, reflecting the time, effort, and dedication that goes into every piece. This approach has helped me cultivate discipline and perseverance, traits that have been invaluable throughout my artistic career.

Your work explores themes like chaos and contrast. What do these concepts mean to you, and how do they influence your art?

Chaos and contrast reflect the complexity of life and the myriad experiences we encounter. For me, chaos represents the unpredictable nature of our surroundings, while contrast emphasizes the differences that add depth to our understanding of the world.
These themes influence my artistic process by encouraging exploration and experimentation. I strive to express the intricate relationships between elements through my work, inviting viewers to reflect on the beauty and complexity found in both chaos and contrast. This approach allows me to create pieces that resonate with the diverse experiences and emotions we all share. Through my art, I aim to bridge the gap between order and disorder, simplicity and intricacy, allowing viewers to engage with the subtle tensions and harmonies that define the world around us. It's this interplay that continues to drive my creativity, pushing me to explore new ways of expressing complex themes in visually compelling ways.

Gaze series 2, pen and ink, 7x5 in, 2023 © Bhagyashri Khandare

Gaze series 3, pen and ink, 7x5 in, 2023 © Bhagyashri Khandare

How do you balance minimalism with complexity in your pieces?

Balancing minimalism with complexity is about finding harmony between simplicity and detail. I approach my work by focusing on key elements that convey the core message of the piece, stripping away any unnecessary distractions. This minimalist approach allows the intricate details and textures, created through stippling, to stand out more vividly.
The complexity comes from the layering of countless dots, forming subtle gradients and patterns that draw the viewer in. By using minimal compositions, I can emphasize these intricate details without overwhelming the audience, creating a piece that feels both refined and richly textured. This balance helps me express complex themes in a way that remainsvisually engaging yet uncluttered. I find that the challenge of balancing these two aspects fuels my creativity, helping me to distill my ideas into their most essential forms while still retaining a sense of depth and intricacy.

What role does nature or the world around you play in your creative process?

The world around me, with all its contrasts and complexities, plays a fundamental role in my creative process. My art style, which often features fragmented, shattered, or broken shards, is inspired by the way I perceive the environment. Living in a small hometown surrounded by mountains and valleys, I was exposed to the rugged, unpredictable beauty of nature.
These fragmented elements reflect the way the world isn't always seamless or orderly; it's a blend of the delicate and the chaotic, the serene and the harsh. I try to capture that sense of contrast and coexistence through my work, using broken forms to represent how beauty can emerge even from disorder. It's a way of expressing how the world is made up of bothharmony and disruption and how those elements come together to form a complete picture. My surroundings have taught me to find beauty in imperfection, a perspective that I continue to explore through my art.

What has been the most challenging artwork you've created, and how long did it take you to complete?

The most challenging artwork I've created is "Abyssal Shimmer," which took six months to complete. This piece stands out as one of the most unique and labor-intensive works in my portfolio. When I first began, I was simply stippling circles at random without a clear idea of where it would lead. As I continued, an unexpected form began to emerge—what resembled a black hole.
The process was intense and required immense patience, as every dot had to be carefully placed to create intricate gradients and depth. Despite the challenge, the end result was a rewarding surprise, demonstrating how dedication and persistence can lead to something entirely unexpected. This artwork taught me that sometimes, the journey of creating can be just as important as the final piece, and it's in those moments of exploration that true creativity flourishes. It pushed me to expand my boundaries, showing that great art can often emerge from the most unplanned, spontaneous beginnings.

Your art has been described as meditative. How do you feel while working on such intricate pieces?

When I work on intricate pieces, I find myself entering a state of calm and focus. The repetitive act of stippling, placing dot after dot, becomes almost meditative. It allows me to block out distractions and be fully present in the moment, which is quite therapeutic. Each dot feels like a small step in a larger journey, and the gradual build-up of texture and detail gives me a sense of accomplishment as the artwork starts to take shape.
This process requires patience, but instead of feeling overwhelming, it brings a sense of peace and clarity. It's as though I'm not just creating art but also finding a rhythm that helps me connect more deeply with my thoughts and emotions. For me, this meditative state is an essential part of my creative process, allowing my ideas to flow freely and take form naturally on the paper. It's a reminder that art is not just about the end product but also about finding solace and meaning through the act of creation.

Abyssal shimmer, pen and ink, 14x17 in, 2022 © Bhagyashri Khandare

What new ideas or projects are you currently exploring, and where do you see your work heading in the future?

Right now, I'm focused on evolving my stippling style and experimenting with ways to create even more depth in my pieces. I'm exploring new techniques that allow for richer textures and more intricate patterns, aiming to push the boundaries of what stippling can convey.
Looking ahead, I see my work continuing to grow in complexity while maintaining the balance between minimalism and detail. I'm excited about the possibility of incorporating new themes and elements, experimenting with different sizes, and perhaps even collaborating with other forms of art. My goal is to keep refining my technique, finding new ways to express concepts, and ultimately creating pieces that resonate on a deeper, more intricate level. I believe that there's always room for growth and discovery, and I'm eager to see where this journey takes me.

Lastly, what are you working on now? Do you have any upcoming exhibitions, projects, or publications you would like to share with our readers?

At the moment, I'm focused on offering prints of my masterpieces, which are available on my website, Ekvarny, and through the curated online art gallery Artling, based in Singapore. I'm excited to share that my work was recently curated for a digital exhibition, which is being showcased at The Holy Art Gallery in both London and Athens. The exhibition runs this October, giving the public an opportunity to explore my art in a new and engaging format. I'm looking forward to connecting with a broader audience through these platforms and continuing to share my work worldwide. Being part of these exhibitions has been an incredible experience, and I'm eager to participate in more opportunities that allow my art to reach new audiences.

Artist’s Talk

Al-Tiba9 Interviews is a promotional platform for artists to articulate their vision and engage them with our diverse readership through a published art dialogue. The artists are interviewed by Mohamed Benhadj, the founder & curator of Al-Tiba9, to highlight their artistic careers and introduce them to the international contemporary art scene across our vast network of museums, galleries, art professionals, art dealers, collectors, and art lovers across the globe.

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