Kathmandu:

Harmony’, the 21 day long sculpture symposium organised by Arambha-Contemporary Nepali Sculptor’s Group at the Nepal Association of Fine Arts (NAFA) came to an end on August 18. Fourteen eminent sculptors from Nepali and eight Japanese sculptors had participated at the symposium. Letters of participation was given to all participants at the closing ceremony.

The huge marble stones that were at the NAFA premises have now acquired different shapes and meanings based on the individual sculptor’s symbolic expressions.

One Japanese sculptor has drawn a parallel between the Mt Everest and Fuji mountain in his creation. These 21 semi-abstract pieces produced during the workshop will be placed at different locations in Kathmandu.

Seventeen of them will be permanently placed at Bhrikutimandap garden in an attempt to spread the message of friendship for many years to come.

Junichiro Suhimoto, executive coordinator of the Japanese team, expressed his gratitude for the hospitality received from Nepal and co-artists. “Our stay in Nepal is a beautiful experience to be cherished for long, and the experiences gained from the symposium will come handy in future while working with people from a different society.”

Tsutomu Hiraoka, Japanese ambassador to Nepal said, “This mega event helped share the process of creating stone sculptures among the general people, spectators and co-workers. An event like this helps artists to share the contemporary development in sculpture making in their country with others and vice versa.”

Believing that art can open invisible doors across cultures, the symposium was organised to mark the 50th anniversary of Nepal-Japan diplomatic relationship.

Pradeep Kumar Gyawali, minister for culture and civil aviation was the chief guest at the programme.