Author | Nikhila Nanduri
Nikhila is an artist and the creator of the graphic narratives Hills and Stones (Yoda Press 2016) and In the Soil, a Tree (Scroll.in 2020). She authored the paper Graphic narratives from the hills: a wood-carving tradition in Uttarakhand, India (OHS Journal, UK, 2018).
Hills and Stones is a bi-lingual graphic narrative about an oral history interview with Gangaramji who was one of the last surviving Likhai craftsmen in Uttarakhand. The comic uses Likhai motifs to reflect on Gangaramji’s account of his life as well as the process of documenting oral narratives. In the Soil, a Tree is a silent, meditative graphic narrative about a tree and the small beings that seek refuge in its shade. It was made as an antidote to news fatigue at the peak of the Covid19 pandemic.
Nikhila’s storytelling emphasizes quiet moments and seeks to explore inner worlds. Her work deals with people-centric stories that are big on feelings, aphorisms and insights as they form a layered view of the world around her. She has over five years of experience working as an artist and graphic-designer.
