Akhil Anand launches his own clothing line to support neurodiverse individuals
At just 13, Akhil Anand is already carving a legacy of his own. His passion for art began with observing the stripes of zebra and tiger. He realized that patterns are everywhere and decided to dive deeper into the art. Last year, he published his book ‘The HEart of Math’ and exactly a year later, he launched his clothing line in collaboration with the Hastha Foundation. The funds received from this initiative will be used for neurodiverse individuals. For Akhil, this is just the beginning; his ultimate goal is to host a solo exhibition to showcase his art. Check out what Anand and Aruna have to say about Akhil’s talent and also, how can you support his initiative. | Photo: Hastha
The art of legacy
Recently, I wrote about a father-son duo and how they support each other to achieve their shared dream. Today, we will see the story of another remarkable father-son duo who has already made history in their own unique ways. The father sees patterns on the chessboard; the son sees patterns everywhere. The father is an artist on the chessboard; the son is an artist on the canvas. The father has many books written on him; the son has written his own book. The father is known as the ‘Tiger’; the son finds patterns of tigers.
On November 13th, Akhil Anand launched his first clothing line in collaboration with the Hastha Foundation, a platform known for creating merchandise for good causes. This journey began when the founder of Hastha, Divya Vigneshwaran attended a school festival where Akhil spoke passionately about his art. She was inspired by him and invited him to do a block printing session.
Akhil created some drawings, made blocks out of them, and printed his designs on t-shirts. What makes this collaboration more special is that his family members including his parents, grandfather, cousin, and himself were selected as models for the photoshoot of his merchandise.
I was very happy that I got selected for the modeling! – Viswanathan Anand
Anand is very proud of his son’s artistic talents. What he loves the most about his art is that whenever Akhil draws an animal or a person, it always feels like they are talking to you. All of his drawings have a certain spark! He is totally impressed by Akhil’s skills in capturing the eyes and expressions of the subjects.
Anand shared a fun incident while talking about understanding Akhil’s art. “I now understand how my dad felt about my chess.” His father was often puzzled when people used to ask him about Anand’s career. He would just tell them, “I don’t know what exactly it’s all about, but he is playing it.” Now, Anand finds himself in a similar spot with Akhil’s art. He is definitely proud, but sometimes… a little unsure about the details.
Aruna also shared her perspective on Akhil’s journey. She described it as a learning experience not just for him, but for her as well. What she admires the most is how Akhil has found his own path. People might expect him to take up chess just like his father. However, Akhil made his point clear by choosing art and creating his own identity.
He knows what he wants and he owns what he is doing! - Aruna said with pride.
According to her, it’s too early to predict where this journey will lead, but she is certain that art will be a big part of his life regardless of what he does. She enjoys the way Akhil does his own research, gains knowledge, and learns new skills independently.
During his recent collaboration with Hastha, he was thinking beyond just drawings. He was deeply concerned about the practical aspects. “What if people wash the t-shirts and the prints fade?” Akhil expressed his worry to the founder of Hastha. He also questioned if the t-shirts were sustainable and organic. His art often reflects his concern for climate change and environmental issues. This attention to detail and a sense of responsibility makes Aruna feel proud of him! For him, art isn’t just about creating something visually appealing. It’s a way to tell stories, raise awareness, and inspire change.
Akhil was given the liberty to determine how the funds from this collaboration would be utilized. However, he was firm in his choice: the money should go toward supporting neurodiverse individuals. These values, reflected in his actions and his art, make not only his parents but everyone around him proud of the person he is becoming.
Akhil has a well-rounded personality and is always curious and passionate about various things. Though art is a big part of his life, he is also interested in chess, gymnastics, yoga, and badminton. Regarding art, he loves studying Egyptian things in Indian art. His ultimate goal is to host a solo exhibition where he can present his paintings showing math patterns in Indian art.
Exactly a year ago, he launched his book ‘The HEart of Math’ showcasing his passion for art, math, and pattern. You will find beautiful illustrations in his book and even if you don’t understand art very well, don’t worry! Akhil has thoughtfully included explanations for each picture to guide you through his creative process.
Last year, Akhil created paintings for all the players participating in the Chennai Grand Masters. He gifted them a beautiful memory of the event. With such creativity and dedication, we can only imagine the incredible masterpieces he will present in the future. We look forward to seeing him host his own exhibition, where the world can experience his art firsthand.
