KATHMANDU: Kala Punja, a group exhibition organised by the Society of Modern Art (SOMA), was inaugurated by Minister Culture and State Restructuring Gopal Kiranti on September 9.

The exhibition, being held at the Nepal Art Council, showcases crea-tions of 16 artists who were trained by the late artist Lain Singh Bangdel. Among the 108 paintings being exhibited, there are three of Bangdel’s works as well.

Being a group exhibition, Kala Punj has encompassed a variety of subjects and signature styles of the featured artists.

From landscapes to portraits, from figurative to abstract, the entire exhibition is an amalgam of a wide range of creations. The variety is present in subject as well — from traditional Nepali musical instruments to flora and fauna, from the village life to the plight of woman artists — all these have brought out the different aspects of Nepal and its people.

A book about the exhibition was also launched. Paintings by artists like Karna Maskey, Shyam Lal Shrestha, Hem Poudel, Hira Lal Dangol Shanta Rai among others are being exhibited.

Rastra Kabi Madhav Prasad Ghimire and senior artist Kiran Manandhar were also present at the event.