KATHMANDU:
The second edition of the Himalayan Art Camp, an artistic exploration and cultural exchange between Nepali and international artists, is nearing its end. If you have missed the opportunity to be a part of it, then head to the Patan Museum as the artworks created during this exchange are on display. The exhibition that started on May 24 will conclude on May 28.
The exhibition features artworks of 30 artists - 20 international and 10 Nepali - who have come together to create, inspire and learn from one another, according to a press release issued by E-Arts Nepal, the principal organiser of the festival. Lalitpur Chamber of Commerce and Industry is the co-organiser.
Before the exhibition, the artists worked together from May 18-22 to create the artworks now on display. "We had heritage as a theme for this art camp. Accordingly, the artists worked at Patan Durbar Square, inside the Patan Museum to create the artworks.
We wanted them to be influenced by the culture, architecture and heritage here," said Bhairaj Maharjan, one of the founders of E-Arts Nepal.
That cultural and architectural influence can be seen in the works of the artists, as per Maharjan. One can find varied forms of artworks - paintings, sculptors, and prints at the exhibition, he informed.
The Nepali artists who were a part of the camp comprise Kiran Manandhar, Navindra Man Rajbhandari, Lok Chitrakar, Seema Sharma Shah, Bhuwan Thapa, Smaundra Man Singh Shrestha, Sushma Shakya, Anil Shahi, Pratima Thakali and Sabita Dangol.
What about the international artists? "We have very senior ones with us including Katsumi Mukai, an 82-year-old artist from Japan," Maharjan informed.
The other international artists include Giuseppe Strano from Italy, Fil Delacruz from the Philippines, and Carolyn Muskat from the US to name a few.
"This time we have brought together both the senior and younger artists so as to bridge the generation gap. We also believe there is learning and sharing with this," revealed Maharjan, who feels they put together a good show.
Along with the exhibition and art camp, the event also featured an art talk on May 19-20 as well as a musical event on May 21.
The first art camp was held in 2017 in Pokhara with nature as the theme, as per Maharjan, who shared, "We had planned to organise the art camp every three years. But then COVID happened and could not do so. And here we are with the second edition after all these years."
