They then held their first contemporary art exhibition entitled “Steps” and now they’re back again with the second edition at Jhaur Bahi, a monastery in Golmadhi.[break]
Steps II has on display works of 14 young artists this time around, not just from Bhaktapur. As there was no particular theme that the artists were working on, the exhibition had a collection of more varied motifs.
The variety did not necessarily add to the quality of the works presented but some of the works did stand out.
The woes of Bhaktapur City - scarcity of water and deteriorating cultural heritages-were a repeated theme this time around as well.
Satya Sheela Kasaju’s work under the caption of “Determination and Consequences” centers on the theme of water scarcity in Bhaktapur.
However, as she relates her art with the myth of Bhagirath, the Hindu king who brought Ganga or water to earth through an arduous meditation, her works become more interesting.
With waterspouts that have the statue of Bhagirath running dry and a number of empty gaagris or water vessels scattered around, she questions, “Will anyone be able to take on the task of Bhagirath again?” Whereas her monochrome paintings portray the dull reality of water scarcity, the colorful ones seem to allude to the hope of water springs.
Rabin Yakami’s pen and ink drawings that document the intricate designs and the deepening fissures and cracks in old buildings around Bhaktapur looks a little too similar from his last year’s works.
“Most of the works are recent,” says Laxman Karmacharya, who is also one of the artists displaying his works at the exhibition.
“We started working on the paintings around 2-3 months ago, but some have also put on their work in which they have been working for a long time.”
Karmacharya’s own paintings entitled “Hide and Seek” are recent works but adhere to a style he’s been continuing for quite some years. For this particular series, he paints male figures, or rather his self-portraits, with the face hidden behind inanimate objects, like a leaf, T-shirts, motorcycle handles.
Karmacharya, who likes to keep his work simple and have it speak for itself, offers a multiple perceptions for the audience - blocked facades, obstructed views, hiding from reality and much more, he says.
Sudeep Balls finds his quirky way of keeping the viewers engaged to his paintings playing with sexual innuendos.
Mukesh Shrestha, the only art graduate not from Kathmandu University School of Art and Design and who is also exhibiting his works, has some beautiful pieces.
His artwork entitled “Soaking with Ganga” has warm colors dominating his canvases which have something serene and tranquil about it.
Besides, the exhibition also has more themes from Bhaktapur, like the celebration of the Bisket Jatra or its simplicity, and other themes like patterns from traditional garments to travel and more.
The exhibition will be open till April 18 at Jhaur Bahi in Golmadhi, Bhaktapur.
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