KATHMANDU:

An exhibition of paintings and sculptures by Palestinian artist Jamal Alafaghani is on at the Siddhartha Art Gallery. The artworks, made during his five months’ stay here, deal mostly with the condition of women in society.

Using a technique called mummy mixed media, inspired by the Egyptian pharaohs, Alafaghani has been able to give the sculptures — made of Nepali clay — a glaze. The shaped clay is covered with bandage and other substances to infuse strong energy into the art.

The figures expertly display how women are exploited, be it physically or psychologically. The works have used different media, including print on canvass, graphic print, linograph, stone, pencil print, and mixed media.

A sculpture named ‘Last Song’ tries to show how women are forced to give up their wishes, so the girl is singing her last song on the musical instrument which she seemingly is about to bang on the ground. Her navel area is empty highlighting her sexual exploitation and commodification of women. The wide bottom shows how they have been rendered less mobile, how their wishes have been limited to a great extent.

Alafaghani has also brought in religious figures from the major religions and merged them. Some of the paintings are same but rendered in different mediums. Alafaghani’s partner Maya Siag has also put three of her artworks on exhibition.

“His works show he is very sound in the fundamentals and his creative vision is also very clear,” remarked senior artist Madan Chitrakar.

The exhibition is on till February 28 — HNS