Kathmandu:

Everyone in the country is craving for a ‘New Nepal,’ especially writers, artists and poets. The latest series of exhibition at the Nepal Art council is proof enough.

On March 13, Siddhartha Art Gallery re-exhibited Nirantar Khula Dhoka here with the launch of a poetry book of the same title. Nirantar Khula Dhoka, first exhibited in 2006 amidst political turmoil, features over 50 door paintings by people from around the world and Nepal. The door paintings are not just by artists, they are also done by people from all walks of life who are marginalised. There are paintings by HIV/AIDS patients, inmates from the Nepal Central jail, by a woman who was sold into a brothel and even by local political party members.

“This exhibition is important because the CA elections is just around the corner, but there is no dialogue,” said Sangeeta Thapa, curator of Siddhartha Art Gallery and the exhibition’s organiser. “These doors are people’s door to be opened for dialogue.”

As the country was struggling to reshape its future, Thapa collected the trashed doors in bulks and hand picked the people she wanted to send them to for painting.

This year’s exhibition, however, started with the initiative of 50 poets from Nepal who wanted to continue sending the message of how important it is for politicians to keep the doors open for continuous dialogue. The poets approached Thapa to continue the message she started with paint brush, except this time with the power of the pen as well.

With the support of BP Koirala India-Nepal Foundation, the poets show just how many different types of doors there are waiting to be opened, closed, and fixed. The book is based on the struggle of the country and the marginalised people. The poems and the painting exhibition complement each other in theme and power of their message.

“The book is based on need for inclusiveness, dialogue, and understanding and respect for each other,” said Thapa at the launch.