Kathmandu:

The International Women’s Day was celebrated on canvas by a few of our young yet promising artists. Heartbeat, an exhibition that was inaugurated on March 8 at NAFA, had 15 upcoming artists displaying their work on issues regarding women and their struggle for existence.

The exhibition’s theme covers struggle and working condition of women labourers in different countries. The exhibition has been held in association with Pourakhi, an NGO for women migrant workers, working with the objective of ensuring their rights in the process of migration pay and work standard.

All the paintings had the essence of women’s endurance. One of the participating artists Sharmila Shrestha said, “I have tried to show that women have now found ways to solve their problems, and are gradually walking to their liberation.”

The exhibition, which was inaugurated ambassador of Israel Dan Stav, will go on till March 12. Thirty per cent of the amount from the sale of the painting will go to Pourakhi.

Shedding the mask

KATHMANDU: Growing up is the most difficult part of a human life. As long as you are a child you can express your feelings without any hesitancy, but as you grow older you are bound by so many social obligations that you end up acting as society expects you to. You end up carrying around a ‘mask’ to hide your true feelings and thoughts. This is what artist Chandra Shrestha has tried to convey through her paintings at her solo exhibition, which was inaugurated by French ambassador Michel Jolivet at NAFA on March 8.

The artist is art teacher and while spending time with children she realised that unlike grown-ups, children are outspoken and don’t hide their feelings and thoughts. Though most of her paintings has female figures, she insists that it is not about women but about all human beings. Bold and vibrant colours has worked wonders to express the feelings she wants her viewers to feel through her paintings.

With each stroke of her brush the artist has created the period of childhood with which everyone can relate to. It has allowed the viewers to enjoy a time of innocence and beauty when the grey shades of life did not exist.

The exhibition is on till March 22. — HNS