Kathmandu:

Shashi Shah’s exhibition titled ‘Retrospective - Celebrating 40 Years of Creativity’ was inaugurated at the Siddhartha Art Gallery on March 25. The exhibition encompasses his art works from his early days as a student to his recent works. A total of 107 of his paintings are on display at the exhibit.

Shah who believes that it is the artists who have led civilizations of the world said, “I have expressed everything I could in my works.” The courtyard at the Gallery was teeming with people at the inauguration. Abhi Subedi’s words seemed to sum up the expression of Shah’s works as he said, “The canvas and Shah have a very direct relation, I saw mobility of imagination in his paintings, the figures become diversely expressive if one observes carefully. They invoke a sense of calm and meditation though at first it seems quite disturbing. His paintings are not simple and fine but have contorted forms, which is his specialty. It has expressive dimensions and vibrant lines.”

To mark this special occasion, Siddhartha Art Gallery honoured Shah with the ‘Siddhartha Art Gallery Life Time Achievement Award’, which was presented to him by Kedar Bhakta Mathema. Inspired by Shah’s paintings a young poet Buddhi Sagar recited his poem describing Shah’s works. The exhibition is open till April 20th.