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New Indian Express
an hour ago
- New Indian Express
Akhilism of Wearable Utilitarianism
At first glance, Akhil Anand looks like any other 14-year-old with a sketchbook. But hand him a pen and a pile of geometry, and you'll witness something quietly radical—a mind that bends maths into mandalas, endangered animals into caped crusaders, and centuries-old art styles into modern merch. The Chennai teen calls it Akhilism—an ever-evolving world of patterns, creatures, stories, and sharp lines where art is both a canvas and a conscience. Blame the brainy genes. Son of chess grandmaster Viswanathan Anand and arts educator Aruna Anand, Akhil grew up in a home where logic and imagination weren't at odds—they danced together. 'Numbers were never scary,' he says, casually flipping through a sketchbook of elephants reimagined as protectors of forests, each trunk curling into spirals of Fibonacci perfection. 'Appa used to make me solve logic puzzles for fun, and amma always filled bedtime with stories of gods, painters, and wild animals. Somewhere in the middle, I started drawing my own versions.' During the pandemic, when most teens were discovering banana bread and binge-watching K-dramas, Akhil stumbled into the world of pointillism—an art form that uses tiny dots to form images. 'I liked how it felt like a puzzle,' he says. 'You don't know what you're making until you step back and look at all the dots together.' The idea of Akhilism was born not just from this technique, but from a playful rhyme with pointillism. 'Amma and I laughed about the word, and then we thought—why not make it a brand?' And so, Akhilism slowly grew from a doodle on a notebook to an idea that could live on mugs, bags, T-shirts, and veshtis. 'It was never a plan,' he shrugs. 'I just drew whatever I felt like, and then Amma said, 'Hey, this would look great on a tote bag!'' But don't be fooled by the casual tone—Akhil's work is steeped in research, heritage, and heart. From Warli stick figures dancing in moonlight to Gond-inspired animal forms layered with geometry, his pieces tap into the deep reservoir of Indian folk traditions. 'Indian art is so cool,' he insists. 'The lines, the storytelling… even something simple has layers.' One of his early artworks—an owl with eyes shaped like the Sri Yantra—was inspired by a trip to a village crafts mela. 'I met this artisan who painted birds on clay pots and told me about symbols that protected homes,' Akhil recalls. 'I went home and started doodling guardians—birds, tigers, snakes—all with shapes I had seen in maths class!'
Time of India
2 hours ago
- Time of India
Taylor Swift accused of slyly shading Travis Kelce's ex-girlfriend Kayla Nicole while gushing over the Chiefs' TE
Taylor Swift accused of slyly shading Travis Kelce's ex-girlfriend Kayla Nicole (Getty Images) Taylor Swift 's first appearance on her boyfriend Travis Kelce 's New Heights podcast gave fans everything they wanted — album news, romantic confessions, and just enough subtlety to fuel speculation about whether she was taking a playful swipe at Kelce's ex, Kayla Nicole. The bracelet story that has Swifties convinced there was more than romance in the air During the episode, Swift revealed how Kelce's attempt to give her a friendship bracelet during her 2023 Eras Tour stop at Arrowhead Stadium never worked out. 'I've never seen the original,' she teased, as Kelce admitted he was 'butt hurt' about the missed chance. — Miss_AshG (@Miss_AshG) Swift then likened the gesture to something 'out of an '80s John Hughes movie,' adding: 'It was also like we kind of live in this day and age where it's like the most romantic gesture that anybody makes towards a girl is usually like their picture, DM them, whatever... but this kind of felt more like I was in an 80s John Hughes movie." Fans quickly connected dots to Kelce's previous relationship with Nicole, which reportedly began through Instagram interactions. Whether coincidence or intentional, the parallel didn't go unnoticed. Swift's own takeaway? 'If this guy isn't crazy, this is exactly what I've been writing about since I was a teenager.' Kelce, in turn, recalled being 'mesmerized' by her performance that night and feeling an instant spark. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Linda Kozlowski, 67, Shows Off Her Perfect Figure In A New Photo The Noodle Box Undo Brittany Mahomes joins in with her reaction to Taylor Swift's big album reveal Swift also used the podcast to announce her upcoming album, The Life of a Showgirl, set to drop October 3. The 12-track record includes titles like Elizabeth Taylor, Father Figure, and Ruin the Friendship, with the final song being a collaboration with Sabrina Carpenter. Kansas City Chiefs WAG Brittany Mahomes wasted no time showing her support, commenting on Instagram: 'This is SO GOOD.' Kelce hyped the project as '12 bangers,' while Jason Kelce offered his own unfiltered review — 'f****** bangers.' Also Read: 'Myopic and rigid sports fans': Colin Cowherd blasts NFL fans for backlash over Taylor Swift cheering for Travis Kelce Between playful banter, possible subtle shade, and major album buzz, Swift's podcast debut proved why she and Kelce remain one of pop culture's most magnetic duos. Whether the Kayla Nicole link was intentional or fan imagination, the love story and new music announcement have cemented this episode as a Swiftie favorite. Catch Rani Rampal's inspiring story on Game On, Episode 4. Watch Here!
Time of India
2 hours ago
- Time of India
Viral: e.l.f. cosmetics' new ad campaign with comedian Matt Rife sparks online outrage, here's why
Image credits: X It seems it's time to put down the jeans and pick up the makeup. While Sydney Sweeney's American Eagle ad campaign may have seen its time of the day on the internet, a new and fresh out of the makeup oven is e.l.f. cosmetics' new ad campaign starring comedian Matt Rife and drag queen Heidi N Closet is receiving much criticism on the internet. On August 11, the budget beauty brand released the campaign video set at the fictional 'Law Offices of & Schmarnes," a play on the real-life law firm Cellino & Barnes. In a parody of the firm's iconic 1990s and 2000s commercials , Rife and Closet acted as "affordable beauty attorneys" who visit "e.l.f. court for millions of clients, helping them to access beauty products they deserve at prices that won't injure their livelihoods." 'I know a thing or two about red flags. And pricey makeup? You deserve better than that,' Rife says in the ad, which ends with the pair encouraging viewers to call '1-855-COLD-HARD-LASH." While there was absolutely nothing controversial about the message of the ad campaign, one of the two stars starring in the campaign, the internet had many issues with. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like This Could Be the Best Time to Trade Gold in 5 Years IC Markets Learn More Undo It was none other than comedian Matt Rife who faced much criticism after his joke on domestic violence made in his debut Netflix special. Why Matt Rife? Image credits: X Rife, 29, had gone popular across the globe in 2022 after a video of his stand-up comedy went viral on the internet. Previously, he had appeared in a few small roles on television and made it to the semi-finals of the comedy competition show "Bring the Funny" in 2019. However, in November 2023, his Netflix special "Natural Selection" released and received mixed reviews in what the comedian described as an attempt to appeal to a male audience after his fame was largely attributed to female supporters. However, in an attempt to make it special for the guys, Rife ended up losing his female fans. In the opening for the special he told a story about visiting a "ratchet" restaurant in Baltimore with his friend and noticing a female server had a black eye. As the story went on, the duo wondered why the establishment wouldn't keep the server in the kitchen to avoid people seeing her injury. "Yeah, but I feel like if she could cook, she wouldn't have that black eye," he quipped. "I figure if we start the show with domestic violence, the rest of the show should be smooth sailing." The comedian landed in even deeper waters after he issued a fake apology on his Instagram story. "If you've ever been offended by a joke I've told, here's a link to my official apology," he wrote adding a link to a website selling "special needs helmets." Netizens react to e.l.f. ad Image credits: X People on the internet, especially women are not even remotely happy with e.l.f. cosmetics, who had a global market of women hiring Matt Rife for a campaign promoting their products. "so like, why is @elfcosmetics working with a man like matt rife who is extremely misogynistic and sexist when their primary demographic is women?," wrote a person on X. "I don't understand how E.L.F. the makeup brand will do a beauty ad with Matt Rife who has made disturbing jokes about women and women's bodies. Like it's unbelievable how the company is also known for empowering women and young girls," commented another. "If you're not familiar with Matt Rife he is a comedian that made jokes about domestic violence, then when people got upset he posted saying he this where people who get upset should need linking to helmets designed for special needs. Then he went on to make jokes about the trans community. Absolutely disgusting that ELF would think it's ok to use him in their ads." wrote a person on Reddit. "Thank you for bringing this to my attention. Domestic violence (regardless of age and gender) is never a joke and I won't condone anyone who treats it like one. So for e.l.f to hire him instead of anyone else, no thanks," added another. One even pointed out how the brand seemed to be getting on the outrage marketing train just like American Eagle did. However, it seems the brand's thoughts were not such as it issued a public apology. 'You know us, we're always listening and we've heard you,' the company wrote in a statement. 'This campaign aimed to humorously spotlight beauty injustice. We understand we missed the mark with people we care about in our community. While & Schmarnes closes today, we'll continue to make the case against overpriced beauty. '
