KATHMANDU, April 15
New Year brings new enthusiasm, new visions, and new dreams. With COVID-19 pandemic looking to be under control, our artists are excited about the possibility to exhibit their work that they created in the last year. The New Year 2079 BS is like a new hope in terms of exhibition of their works as they consider the lockdown of the past two years as a period of doing homework to make art.
For Asha Dongol, freelance artist/ cofounder of E-Arts Nepal, the year 2079 BS is the year that he has been awaiting for. "I utilised the lockdown making a series of COVID-19 and many other artworks, but only 50 per cent of those have been exhibited till now through online platforms for many reasons like lockdown, time constraints, and the pandemic itself.
I hope to exhibit my all remaining work either in physical or virtual medium by 2079 BS." He also plans to visit the mountain areas of the country to carry out research work on his ongoing series under his art project of mountain and climate change.
For Rubi Maharjan the New Year 2079 BS is one to advance/ grow in her career. Maharjan, who loves to play with chemicals, metals, soil and arts, said, "My first priority is studies. Later I will focus on fine art in connection with microbiology which I had studied in my Bachelor's. I will relate both science and fine art. I will choose unique subjects so that I can express how science and fine art are interrelated to each other.
People are interested in science and art is a medium to make people aware. So I will focus on how I can make art which can engage people in my art that will convey the message about science in art."
She informed that she will be engaged in group exhibitions which she thinks she needs for growth in the field of art. "I aim to manage to prepare for a solo exhibition by the end of the year. I won't miss the chance to do so. Last year, it was challenging to make my artwork because of the financial and the required material shortage due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
I will focus on how I can engage in my own artwork this year. I will make efforts to create my own identity in the art field. I am hopeful about the New Year in the belief we will not need to work under restrictions caused by the pandemic."
Maharjan said, "As I have some experience having been engaged in Kathmandu Triennale, I hope something will be there for me to grow in my career as a beginner."
Priyanka Tulachan, studio and visual artist, who had been continuing her earlier studio artworks titled 'Aale' through online platform via KU Art Gallery's website, also considers the year 2079 BS as bringing new hope to her and her career.
"My art includes the composition of layers of text and images representing my memories with my grandfather, my clan and my Thakali community.
I will excel in this artwork in 2079 BS visiting my village in Baglung to explore further artistic aspects in my work. I will archive old photos in 2079 BS.
My current artwork includes interviews of community members in my village about their original identity. I will work on their journey, migration in this year. I will include photography art and book making in my artwork. I will also hold physical exhibition."
As per Tulachan, she needs to evaluate which art will suit the exhibition as she will have video, audio, writings, and photography, and previous works in her upcoming collection.
"I have been exhibiting my artwork via online exhibitions.
I plan to exhibit that artwork in the physical mode in 2079 BS. I am thinking of exhibiting them as first phase, second phase of physical exhibition.
I did this artwork focussed on community engagement but it was not in-depth engagement due to the pandemic.
Now I will do an in-depth study of the community and reflect further detailed description for reflection in my art form."
She shared she will focus on how an artist can play with photographs and writings.
Sujan Bir Bajracharya plans to visit Gosain Kunda with his family to get refreshed.
"This trip will be useful for me for an artistic purpose besides refreshment."
Bajracharya said, "I have been working on the theme of popular food culture, traditional food culture, and I want to show how a kind of food politics has been transforming society and culture. I am planning to continue this in the New Year. I will exhibit my artwork through different media. I will participate in all art programmes. Last year was like the graduation year for me. Now I am studying Master's in Fine Art. I think my experience working in the Kathmandu Triennale has empowered me to participate in other exhibitions too."
He elaborated, "I think 2079 BS is the year for growth, of rejuvenation, a year to do research to resume our work, gather everything and explore places for art exhibitions. It's a hope for us to explore more."
Mural artist Laxman Shrestha aims to accomplish his ongoing 101 art movement - a mural art campaign by Shrestha to create an ecofriendly artistic environment at his residence in Baneshwore. "I have been running 101 art movement by myself. I have been doing murals from Bhimsen Khola to Baneshwore, Kathmandu. I have completed around 40 pieces under this. I will complete this 101 movement in 2079 BS. I will also make efforts to make public familiar with my art."
Visual artist and Founder of Artudio Kailash K Shrestha said, "We were working in isolation for two years, but with the pandemic waning we are excited to work well in 2079 BS like we used to before the pandemic."
Sharing that he had missed many things in the last two years, Shrestha said, "I will be more focussed in participating in international exhibitions because we didn't think about participating in the international space earlier. We will scale ourselves up by participating in new engagements like international residences, collaborating with international artists' network, curatorial interventions. I will focus on curatorial engagement, own exhibition forms, and publications."
A version of this article appears in the print on April 16, 2022, of The Himalayan Times.
