Revolutionizing

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FEBRUARY 2021 | VOLUME 1 - ISSUE2 first person Cont. onpage 3 skills willsurpass thosegonebefore, andinterest in ceramics willcontinue togrow. son joinedme, ashaveotheryoungstudents, inmystudio/work shop. Ibelievetheir this about. Employment wouldencourage thecominggeneration. To thisendmy both andinterest andamarket forsuchworks. MoNA isonesuchvesseltobring way tofosterarenewal istomodernizebothdesign andproduction, andtocreate concerns me, foritisimportant tokeep anddevelop ourartistic traditions. One from China, India or Bangladesh, they were and are our culture. a part of This decline the Newa people.cast of While Nepali ceramic works were never as refined as those Sadly, ceramics weseeasharpdeclineinthe production bythePrajapati of (Kumah) and claytogetherinthefurnace-veryexciting. dangerous andusuallydirty. Yes, challenging, extremes: forthemediumisoneof fire clay allowsisexciting andchallenging-whileat timesitcanbehard work, alittle For today my mind and work are totally focused on ceramics. The 3D-expressionism clayasachildiscomingmore andmore theballof totheforefront.my choiceof My early works were mainly in iron and wood, with some sketching and painting. Yet teaching andplumbingtolivebeableworkwithclay ceramics. nor were qualitysupplieseasily available. Ihadtodomanyjobs, like housepainting, religious works. Fact is, itwasdifficult togetanart training oranartistic education, Nepal are veryoften decorative. The more talentedonesprogressed toportraits, or art. anartistof asonewhopaintedsignboards, Inthosedayswethought of whichin This wasstrange, fornooneinmyfamilyshowedanyinclination towards anyform creating different objectsandexperimenting withclayforms. become a mason. I did not, but as I grew up I developed a fascination for clay, always the objectwepickpredicts ourfuture life. clay, Ichoseaballof indicating that Iwould marked bythe‘rice-feeding’ ritual. Objectsare often thechild, placedinfront of and agewenormallygofrom beingbreastAt sixmonthsof fedtomore solidfoods, thisis and craftsmanshipstillinspire Gopal Kalapremi: SET OFTHE“MONOCHROMESCENEPLAY“ BY GOPAL KALAPREMIONDISPLAYATM

NEPAL ART POST - Ancient traditions Ancient traditions [email protected] | Tel: 9802020484 | [email protected] o NA

regards thisrevolutionary songasa Cont. onpage3 citizens tostandupfortheirrights. listen toit, becausethewords motivate was censored, itwasacrimeto asif during hischildhooddays. The song radio, noreasily availableincassettes, masterpiece, notoften playedonthe Nepali song“ a:tLaf6 p7 Kalapremi’s newworktitled“ galleries around theworld. has exhibited hisworks innumerous Nepal, Pakistan and other countries. He art, teaching inmultipleuniversities dedicated thelast35years toceramic self-taught artist and ceramist. He has Kalapremi, isaKathmandu-based Gopal DasShrestha, alsoknownas ART REVOLUTIONIZING

first article the world Nepali art inmuseumsaround CURATORIAL AT LARGE Art Events inFebruary 2021 ART EVENTS By Asha DangolandBidhata KC CONTEMPORARY ART CONTENTS WHERE THE ARTCOMES ALIVE ” isinspired from theold ufpF ufpFaf6p7 Pg 1 © KGH PUBLICATION versions Scan fordigital original script. Ranjana, Nepal’s monogram in PostNepal Art PG4 PG3 PG2 a:tL ”. He He ”.

NEW AVATAR While integrating contemporary art into the mysticism and spiritualism of traditional Paubha iconography, Asha has portrayed humans’ supremacist and raw exploitation of the Earth and all her creatures for centuries. People have always confined and abused animals, showing extremes of cruelty. Where his view is that the Earth is our common home, and all living beings should have equal rights.

This painting depicts an image of a deity whose many heads are replaced by a buffalo, cow, pig, Asha (the artist) and Erina (his wife).

By provoking our senses, Asha, gives us a chance to correct our mistakes. His message, ‘We are but mere guests on Earth for a very short time, so let us treat others as we would like to be treated. Yes, treat Mother Earth with love and respect, make her greener, clear the seas and the skies, and become better beings ourselves.’

This painting aims to renew our perception of our planet and our environment, lighting a path to coexistence and mutual sustenance.

‘We don’t own but merely share Mother Earth with all her creations.’ concludes Asha. NEW AVATAR Asha Dangol BY ASHA DANGOL Freelance Artist, Lalitpur, NEPAL

EKKAIS DIN - 21 DAYS With the rising COVID-19 crisis, I cut short my month-long art residency in Vienna and reluctantly returned to 21 days of voluntary self-imprisonment.

Fearful that I could be carrying the virus, I stayed in my room, staring at the outside world through the grill. Stigmatization of Nepali returnees and hate speech on Facebook made me feel like an outsider in my own home.

Memories resurfaced of my teenage days in lock-down during the menstrual cycle. I sympathize with the women who have to go through the cruel and demeaning ‘chaupadi’ system (isolation in a hut during menstruation). This is now illegal in Nepal, but superstitions and traditions are strong so it is still practiced by many.

‘During this time of isolation, I was drawn ever closer to Klimt’s, ‘The Kiss’. The essence of that painting - love - reminds me of the need for love now more than ever. The resentment of reaching Austria, yet not being able to see it with my own eyes, also features in mine. Ekkais Din represents my travels, self-isolation and emotional turmoil during those difficult days.’

Bidhata KC Visual Artist, Kathmandu, NEPAL.

An exhibition that showcases both of these artworks, entitled Tangential Stress is a paroxysm of emotions, put together with the hope that we become less complacent and more appreciative EKKAIS DIN - 21 DAYS of our nature and life, teaching us humility in the process. BY BIDHATA KC Visit mona.com.np for the virtual exhibition.

FEBRUARY 2021 | VOLUME 1 - ISSUE 2 NEPAL ART POST - [email protected] | Tel: 9802020484 Pg 2 © KGH PUBLICATION unveiling REVOLUTIONIZING HEVAJRA MANDALA By Lok Chitrkar ART Mineral Color on Cotton Canvas Size: 56.5 X 44.5 inches

From page 1... A Paubha that is 25 years in the making has finally seen Kalapremi says, ‘I used to feel my blood light of day at the Museum boiling and my body burning, but at that of Nepali Art. Now the public time I did not understand the meaning of can breathe in the incredible political demonstration. In fact, I still do not details of this masterpiece by understand it. Nevertheless, I have come veteran artist Lok Chitrakar, to realize that this song provides the exact though it is still a work in feelings and motive that my country is progress. The immensely intricate artwork will convince seeking from its citizens at this present time. the onlooker that this painting ufpF ufpFaf6 p7, a:tL a:tLaf6 p7 . of] itself is a course book on Newa b]zsf] d'xf/, km]g{nfO{ p7 Yes, it is the ultimate Buddhist (tantric) iconography responsibility of each and every citizen of the -- a diagrammatical manual nation to understand the gist of the song’. that will help the reader understand life and existense, All these emotions that Kalapremi and eventually guide him/her experienced have been critical in the to nirvana. making of his ceramic sculptures during the Covid-19 lock-down. He says that a lesson Now on display at MoNA. the pandemic has taught is that every person (on loan from the artist) should rise up and utilize his/her full capacity for the betterment of the country and the whole world. This is the exact essence of the song; it conveys the message of rising up together and uniting for the progress of the people. art events IN february 2021

‘Through my art, I want to convey the AN EXHIBITION BY THE message that people with different talents ART & MUSIC MELA EXHIBITION and skills should come together, as they HIMALAYAN LIGHT ART are the ones who will write the future of the AWARDEES ART FOR PEACE Print Exhibition world.’ Kalapremi adds. By Tsherin Sherpa The Way Home is Away from Exhibiting Emotions In his latest work, he has incorporated a Home - Jagdish Moktan and through Art and Music, 2 Jan to 14 Feb 2021 fusion of humans and animals by using the In the Realm of Recollections Nepali and International face of a horse on a human structure. He - Priyanka Singh Maharjan Artists Time: 10 am to 6pm notes that the horse has played a vital role (closed on Monday) in the development of human civilization, 15 Jan to 15 Feb 2021 13 Feb, 2021 from the plough, to transport, to its role Location: in wars and conquests. A far-reaching Location: Babermahal Location: Behind Thai Bihar Bhanimandal, Ekanta contribution mankind has not always Revisited premises Kirtipur Kuna Road, Lalitpur recognized. A magnificent creature being strong, striking, hardworking and modest. The human structure, a lady-shaped figure, Siddhartha Art Gallery Art & Music Mela Wind Horse Gallery symbolizes today’s era of realization and is a fb.com/ Siddhartha-Art-Gallery fb.com/artandmusicmela fb.com/windhorsegalleryktm demonstration of women’s ability and power. Aspects that Kalapremi has continuously emphasized through his works in recent years.

Gopal Kalapremi: Ancient traditions and craftsmanship still inspire From page 1...

Clay works reach back 20,000 years in time, with objects discovered in ancient civilizations found in the Indus Valley and Gandhar. Such pieces range from every day functional use, such as pots, plates and drinking vessels, to far more intricate works for religious ceremonial purposes. Industrialization has its benefits, but a negative byproduct is today’s stressful lifestyle and superficial materialism. Luckily, people are seeking their roots, grounding themselves in nature. Civilizations can be interpreted through progress in arts and skills. If there is no art, one cannot progress. I accept that people’s first need is not art. It is a luxury. In the past, reaching a stage of artistic appreciation took time, education and was usually reserved for the higher strata’s of society. Yet, my belief is that if children learn to practice art, they will find clearer perspectives in life. Art is a birthright of every one of us. Even if they don’t become artists, I encourage all youngsters to learn and practice art.

Nobody can interpret art fully. It is impossible. Breaking art down into words can destroy its true essence. Thinking critically and analyzing art leads to a divide of positive and negative aspects. However, in real art, there are no sides, it comes through the heart. Art is art. That’s it.

FEBRUARY 2021 | VOLUME 1 - ISSUE 2 NEPAL ART POST - [email protected] | Tel: 9802020484 Pg 3 © KGH PUBLICATION NEPALI ART in museums

AROUND THE WORLD MoNA AND QATAR The best masterpieces by Nepali artists are scattered around the AIRWAYS COLLABRATION world, either in museums or in private collections. Here is a short lucky draw on March 25th, 2021 list of museums where artworks by master Nepali artists are on display. curatorial at large at curatorial To create awareness about Nepali Art and to incentivize a museum-going trend, MoNA, Austria California KGH Group, and Qatar Airways have come - Welt Museum Wien, Vienna - Asian Museum of San Francisco - Los Angeles County Museum up with the program where any visitor Canada of Art coming to MoNA from February 1 to March - Royal Ontario Museum 24, 2021, will have a chance to win the Colorado following: France - Denver Art Museum - The Guimet Museum, Paris A. 1 round trip economy class ticket on Connecticut Qatar Airways online destination. India - Yale University Art Museum, (T&Cs Applied) - Tibet House Museum, New Delhi - Yale University Beinecke Rare Book & Manuscript Library B. Upto 10%* discount to all the museum Japan visitors on any Qatar Airways selected - Tokyo National Museum New York - Fukuoka Asian Art Museum - Rubin Museum of Art online destination. - The Metropolitan Museum of Art Netherlands - American Museum of C. Free stay at Waterfront Hotel, Pokhara - Rijksmuseum Natural History - Asia Society, New York D. Free stay at Buddha Maya Garden Russia Hotel, Lumbini - State Hermitage New Jersey - Newark Museum Singapore - The Nei Xue Tang Museum Pennsylvania

- Philadelphia Museum of Art South Korea

- The Hahn Cultural Foundation, Texas Hwajeong Museum, Seoul - Crow Museum of Asian Art - Dallas Museum of Art Switzerland Art is the medium “ - Museum of Cultures Basel Washington DC - Seattle Art Museum that exemplifies United Kingdom - Arthur M Sackler Gallery - The Ashmolean Museum of Art - The Freer Gallery of Art “ our history and and Archaeology, Oxford - The British Museum, London sustains our future

Welcome to MoNA. Welcome to our WORLD. CHANCE TO WIN “FREE ROUND TRIP ECONOMY CLASS TICKET ON QATAR AIRWAYS SELECTED ONLINE DESTINATION” Upto 10%* discount to all the museum visitors on any Qatar Airways selected online destination.

NEPAL ART POST TEAM | EDITOR: ALOK SIDDHI TULADHAR | DESIGNER: MANISH JOSHI | RESEARCH: URSULA MANANDHAR, LAETA TULADHAR