A LOCAL artist has put his own blood to canvas as a way to put ‘more of himself into his work’.
Artist Nikhil Nathan Kirsh, who has previously used other natural materials in his art such as coffee, wine and fungi spores, has now used 180ml of his own blood to prime a canvas for his show, ‘Gates and Bridges’ which opens at The Mycelium Space at Frome Station on 18th May.
Speaking about putting his blood to canvas, Nikhil said, “It was a powerful experience. I would say that the blood is a way of putting more of myself into the work.
“I had a whole entourage of beautiful people with me at the Mycelium Space where I have since been publicly working on this canvas. Everything is being documented for a film that we will be putting together about the process.
“The current stage of the blood canvas is already powerful to sit with, and it will continue to develop for a couple of months until I unveil it at my show.
“For many years, I have explored subtle aspects of myself as means through which states that feel divine seem accessible. As this journey has progressed, I have noticed that the more of my ‘self’ I can include in that bridge-building, the more parts I can integrate or accept and eventually feel love for, the clearer the bridge, and the more I can identify with that divine level.”
Nikhil’s art, he says, “explores dimensions of consciousness, from existential ‘separateness’ to deeper and more intimate expressions of unity.” He works on large-scale canvases, which often take up to a year. For more information, visit www.nikhilkirsh.com and www.youtube.com/@gallerykirsh5327
You can follow Nikhil at www.instagram.com/nikhilkirsh
