KATHMANDU: The artworks of veteran artist Birendra Pratap Singh, artist Hit Man Gurung and SC Suman were displayed in the Banquet Hall of Hotel Annapurna, Durbar Marg on November 29.

Their artworks were part of a silent auction at a fundraAising dinner for the Kathmandu Triennale (KT) 2017. This year Kathmandu International Art Festival (KIAF) has changed into Kathmandu Triennale, and is being organised by the Siddhartha Art Foundation (SAF).

The Triennale aims to promote Nepali art and culture globally while positioning Kathmandu as a cultural hub in South Asia. The KT is going to take place in 17 different venues of Kathmandu and Patan. Seventy-five per cent of the fund has to be raised for KT scheduled from March 24 to April 7, 2017.

During the event, Founder Director of SAF Sangeeta Thapa shared, “For positive reflection, the Kathmandu International Art Festival has morphed into Kathmandu Triennale from this year.

This event is dedicated to art, and this year the theme of Kathmandu Triennale is ‘City My Life, City My Studio’ and Philippe Van Cauteren, Director of Stedelijk Museum voor Actuele Kunst of Gent, Belgium is the curator of the Triennale. There will be 50-plus Nepali artists in the event and five gala events. Then at the symposiums there will be a good representation of Nepali artists and scholars.”

Canadian born artist Gary Wornell who visited Nepal during KIAF 2012 as participating artist talked about his exhibition ‘Treasure of Nepal’ and the book of the same name.

The exhibition and the book are the result of his stay in Nepal and understanding Nepali crafts and people who made them. The exhibition is being showcased at Lahti Art Museum, Finland from September 23 until January 29, 2017. He added, “My visit to Nepal has transformed my life.”

The event also witnessed Cauteren being appointed as an International Goodwill Ambassador for Nepali Contemporary Art by Deepak Joshi, CEO of Nepal Tourism Board. Explaining the reason behind the fundraising dinner Nischal Oli, Director of KT said, “The fundraiser is for creating awareness that art also has a marketing potential and it is more than just Corporate Social Responsibilities (CSR).

And we are not just exhibiting artworks but creating a long-term impact through encounters, symposiums and educational outreach programmes. Today the invitees can pledge any amount and support the Triennale.

Donations and in-kind support is essential for the Foundation to realise its goal of making Kathmandu a hub for socially aware art practices. And this year there will be curated symposiums.”