Anika De Souza

My work as a visual artist and calligrapher explores the dynamic relationship between form, rhythm, and movement. Rooted in classic calligraphy, my practice began during my studies in Germany, where I was drawn to the elegance of scripts like italic and copperplate. Inspired by calligraphers such as Brody Neuenschwander and abstract artists like Cy Twombly, I aim to merge tradition with innovation. Through gestural writing and bold brushstrokes, I transform language into visual expression, allowing letters to stretch, distort, and dissolve into abstraction. This process encourages viewers to experience language on a visceral level, focusing on its visual presence rather than literal meaning. Each mark, whether crafted with pencil, graphite, or oil sticks, is a deliberate response to the moment, capturing a balance of spontaneity and control. I often begin with raw, sketch-like lines that contrast with more layered, forceful strokes, creating a visual rhythm reminiscent of classic calligraphic traditions. My work transforms the act of mark-making into an exploration of movement, texture, and form, turning each piece into a dialogue between the personal and the abstract, the structured and the free.