Art has long been a journey of exploration, and for many Nepali artists today, it continues to evolve in bold and unexpected directions. Moving beyond the traditional boundaries of canvas, they are experimenting with diverse mediums and innovative forms that transcend conventional visual language. These experimental approaches are currently on display at Siddhartha Art Gallery, Babarmahal, where the exhibition ‘Under the Same Roof’ is being held from July 16 to August 16. The showcase brings together a dynamic range of contemporary practices that challenge the notion of what art can be and where it can live.
The artist duo Subodh Bhandari and Sambriddhi Ratna Shakya breathe life into new forms of contemporary expression, drawing deeply from the cultural soul of the Kathmandu Valley. Their work revolves around the intricately carved Newari windows-an architectural emblem of the valley’s heritage and a silent witness to generations of urban life. These windows, once merely a functional element of homes, are re-imagined as portals into memory, imagination, and untold narratives.
Both artists are graduates of Kathmandu University, where the artistic journey begins not just with technique, but with a strong emphasis on ideation. This early nurturing of conceptual thinking has allowed them to develop a language that is distinctly their own.
In Subodh’s creations, the rustic textures of aged windows and fragments of forgotten walls come alive. Peering through them, one glimpses not just another room but an entire universe unfolding-layered with emotion, memory, and metaphysical wonder. It evokes the timeless human curiosity: what lies beyond that closed window?
This theme is deeply rooted in Nepali literary imagination as well. Govinda Bahadur Malla “Gothale” captured a similar intrigue in his novel Pallo Ghar ko Jhyal-The Window of the Next House-where the window becomes a metaphor for distance, desire, and the unknown. In the hands of these artists, that same motif is reinterpreted visually, inviting the viewer to step into spaces both intimate and infinite.
Among the many windows on display, some reveal simple yet deeply evocative scenes-wet clothes hung out to dry, fluttering gently as if caught in a moment between rain and sun. These familiar, everyday images have unexpectedly captivated many visitors, resonating with a sense of intimacy and shared urban rhythm.
Within the whitewashed gallery walls, these windows—crafted from layered cardboard, thoughtfully painted and textured-transform into sculptural installations. They are not merely visual representations but living fragments of the city’s pulse, suspended in stillness, yet echoing the movement of life outside.
Sambriddhi Ratna Shakya, a native of Patan, and Subodh Bhandari, who migrated to the valley, come from different personal geographies. Yet, in their collaboration, they find a powerful common ground. “The valley is a shared dream,” they say. “Whether one is chasing ambitions or simply surviving the day, we are all navigating this space together. That’s what makes this project meaningful- it’s not just ours, it belongs to everyone.”
Their works, rooted in contrasts yet united in spirit, speak of coexistence-between past and present, origin and destination, hope and reality.
One of the gallery visitors, Sonam Dorje, expressed admiration for the installation: “This kind of experimentation is truly refreshing. It shows that regardless of the medium, what matters most is the depth of ideation behind it.”
On the first floor of the gallery, Sambriddhi Ratna Shakya’s works unfold with quiet brilliance. Here, he reimagines windows on canvas—not as confined frames, but as openings that stretch beyond their borders. His brush dares to wander past the edges, allowing forms and textures to spill into new visual terrains. The canvases breathe with possibility, suggesting that the stories they hold cannot be contained within fixed dimensions. Each piece seems to gesture toward something just beyond reach-a whisper of memory, a flicker of movement, a life continuing outside the frame.
Together, the artist duo has already made their mark on the international stage, having recently showcased their creations at the prestigious India Art Fair in Delhi, 2025. Their evolving practice speaks to a broader conversation in contemporary art-one that challenges convention, embraces the local, and dares to dream beyond the expected.
For those who find joy in the ever-unfolding language of art and seek spaces where imagination dares to take new forms, Siddhartha Art Gallery offers just that. It is a place where walls become windows, and windows become stories waiting to be seen.
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