From the 7th to the 13th of Bhadra in the year 2080, a remarkable and all-encompassing art exposition in Nepal is unfold its grandeur within the halls of the Nepal Art Council, Babarmahal. This prestigious event, christened as the Himalayan Art Festival, is a perennial endeavor brought to life by E-Arts Nepal, a venture led by the visionary Asha Dangol. Since 2017, this celebration of art has been a recurrent marvel coinciding with the festive spirit of Dashain, a revered occasion among the Nepali populace.
Asha Dangol, a co-founder of E-Arts Nepal, expounded on the essence of the Himalayan Art Festival, “While Dashain witnesses a plethora of festivities and realm of Nepali art often remained veiled within this tapestry. In response, since 2017, we’ve initiated on this artistic odyssey, aligning with the contemporary ethos and channeling the creative fervor of Nepali artists.”
Artist Dangol articulates that the essence of this exhibition lies in adorning Nepali artworks within the homes of their compatriots. What was once deemed an arduous endeavor to acquire Nepali art has now transformed into an accessible venture, tailored to resonate with middle-class families through its attractive pricing. Over 80 artists have converged to unveil their creations, each brushstroke and sculpture a testament to their ingenuity.
Participating artists underscore the exhibition’s role as a litmus test for the caliber of Nepali artistry. Within this showcase, the pulse of Nepal’s art scene beats prominently, offering insights into its current standing and propelling its trajectory toward evolution and excellence.
Pratima Thakali, the curator of the show says that the task she had undertaken to curate this show was one of its kinds. The art-works are displayed in such a way that each paintings and piece of arts are given required spacing which lets the visitors to enjoy each of the art-works while strolling around the gallery of the Nepal Art Council.
Some of the highlighted works being displayed in the exhibition includes the artwork of Asha Dangol where he seems to portray the imagery of greedy humans polluting the Mt.Everest. The imagery in the painting is shown with red color depicting the wrath of the nature.
Yet another artist, Balkrishna Banmala with his mask series of painting has been creating awe to many of the art-enthusiasts. Most of his works are based on prevalent norms and traditions that he follows in Bhaktapur. Being an artist and an ardent worshipper of a god, he always had conflict and the pursuit of identity and creative endeavors are the subject matters that he chooses in most of his paintings.
Another artist that is being showcased in the show is the talented Bidhyaman Tamang. An artist trained to be a printmaker, tries to depict the connection of farming and the environment by using the symbols of frogs, cats and mice and their relation in the ecosystem. Ceramic artist Gopal Kalapremi is yet another highlight of the exhibition where he connects with the sensuous soil and the human nature.
Jasmine Rajbhandari, yet another talented artists has experimented with minimal color and circular composition for this particular exhibition. The background of the painting is red while the central characters are the ordinary vegetable vendors that make their living by selling the vegetables. Their sentiments and woos are clearly presented in her paintings.
Veteran artist Kiran Manandhar’s Krishna is yet another highlight of the exhibition. This particular painting seems to possess some qualities of the abstract yet it has been able to create the 3D like imagery which has awestruck many of the visitors as they gather around to appreciate this piece of painting. Krishna Lama is also one of the talented artists who is showcasing his art-work for this exhibition. Entitled Rainbow Lollypop, this artist says that he is trying to depict different shades of desires via his paintings. This talented artist seems to work in different layers in his paintings and his dedication and hard-work can really be estimated while one looks at the painting that he created.
Meena Kayastha is another artist who has played with ceramics this time for the exhibition. According to her, she is trying to depict the navarasa or the nine emotions that each human possess via her round plate like imagery in which, in the middle are the imageries representing different emotions. The nine emotions include: Sringar (love), Hasya (Laughter), Karuna (sorrow), Raudra (anger), Veera (Heroism), Bhayankara (fear), Bibhasta ( disgust), abdhuta (surprise) and Shanta (peace).
Pradeep Kumar Bajracharya is yet another talented artist who has showcased the tradition of a Jatra via the use of vibrant colors in his paintings. The painting has the taste of both abstractness as well as imageries at the same time and people seem to flock around the artworks of this talented artist.
2017 was the year that Himalyan Art Festival embarked it’s journey with a focus on contemporary paintings and sculptures, the festival started with a roster of 50 artists. Artist Dangol’s tireless efforts led to collaborations with diverse artistic organizations across the Kathmandu Valley, an alliance that burgeoned each year, culminating in the creation of an collective fair.
A captivating medley of art genres permeates the present exhibition. It weaves together the works of seasoned Nepali artists with those of the current generation. Renowned names such as Krishna Manandhar, Shasikala Tiwari, Rajan Kafle, Suresh Maharjan, Rabinra Shrestha, Erina Tamrakar, Reeta Manandhar, Rabindra Shrestha,Roshan Pradhan, Prithvi shrestha and many more grace the walls with their creative expressions, an amalgamation of approximately 80 artists showcased within a single gallery.
The paintings being exhibited at the Himalayan Art Festival 2023.
A distinctive facet of the exhibition is the homage paid to senior artists. Bhairaj Marhajan, co-founder of E-Arts Nepal, elaborates on this endeavor that commenced in 2019. He reveals a dedicated space curated for a senior artist and their masterpiece. This year, the spotlight is on Professor Govind Narayan Jyapu, a venerable sculptor whose work shall command this special zone.
The exhibition boasts a panoramic representation, drawing artists from the mountains, hills, and Tarai regions of Nepal. Erina Tamrakar, an artist and co-founder of E-Arts Nepal, highlights the significant participation of women artists, adding a dimension of inclusivity and diversity to the artistic tapestry.
Spanning seven vibrant days, the festival unfurls with a multitude of art-centric activities, including Art Talk sessions, Guided Tours, and the esteemed Prashanta Scholarship Award. Notably, on August 24th, the exhibition doors opened, coincided with the homage to the maestro Govinda Narayan Jya-Poo. On the 26th, the show’s curator, Pratima Thakali, guided attendees through the artistic voyage. A compelling Panel Discussion took center stage on the 27th. The 29th marks the conferral of the Prashanta Scholarship Award to a deserving candidate, while the grand finale on the 30th draws the curtains on this enriching artistic odyssey.
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