This box remains silent in a closed wooden cupboard in one corner of the studio ‘Artudio’ at Jyatha, Thamel, along side bundles of unfinished sketches and framed masterpieces which could fit any exhibition.[break]
Artudio is an open platform for sharing ideas and is also home to most of his creations, some of which hang on the walls of Mega Bank, Australian Embassy, Nepal Investment Bank, Hyatt Hotel, Khetan Group, Australian Himalayan Foundation, Sutra Art Centre, and Kathmandu University.
Owning a studio however, was no easy job it took him years to establish the workplace. “I came to Kathmandu in 2000 and the studio was established only last year,” he informs. A local of Charikot, Dolakha he moved to Kathmandu after his SLC examinations.
“By then I was very much into painting,” he recalls. Being a small village there were no exhibitions or professional artists. “The artist of our villages only painted banners and so I came to this city with the dream of becoming a good banner painter,” he recalls.
In Kathmandu he stayed with his elder brother in Thamel. In the evenings he would stroll down the streets wondering at the various pictures and paintings the shops hung. “I realized then that there was more to art then just being able to write a neat banner, you could actually paint a face,” he smiles.
Although wanting to learn art he was admitted to a commerce school, the subject his parents had decided for him. The mathematic or the economic lessons however, garnered no attention as for him the desire to learn art was now bigger than ever.
“I secretly appeared for the entrance examinations at the Lalit Kala Campus (Fine Arts Campus),” he shares. The first attempt was unsuccessful but his determination paid off the second time.
“While at the entrance exam everyone took measurements, and I had no idea about what they were doing but copied them nevertheless,” he recalls.
After completing his two years of art education, his thirst to learn more was only more severe. As luck would have it that very year Kathmandu University decided on running its first BFA (Bachelor in Fine Arts Program.) He knew he had to get there but financial matters came up as a huge hindrance.
Although an art teacher in a school by then he had to empty his piggy bank to get just to gather enough for the admissions requirements.
“I knew I had to join KU no matter what,” he exclaims and so he did. He somehow managed to get another job and a 30% work scholarship at the University which helped him pay off his tuition fee.
His difficulties were not solved with education fee being managed. His limited English language skills were inefficient for the University resulting in low grades in history and other theoretical subjects.
“My practical classes saved me though, I scored full marks every time,” he exclaims. At the final evaluation of the course Kailash was ranked the highest scorer of his batch.
And then there was no looking back. An exhibition followed and then next was a solo show for him. Entitled “A Shift of Vision” the show was held at the Nepal Art Council. The show was a huge success “The exhibition collected all the money I had put in education,” giggles the artist. Also, he put up “Silent Flow”, his second Solo Art Exhibition at Siddhartha Art Gallery, Baber Mahal Revisited.
As a participant he marked his presence locally and internationally in more than 25 exhibitions on painting and photography.
During university days he had also explored his photographic skills. Now he was not only painting he was taking photographs too and is sharing the skill through ‘the Image School,’ a Facebook-based art and photography promoting platform.
The school holds workshops and competition for amateur photographers. He also has a short film to his credit.
Entitled Between the Line the film is a part of the Docskool-KU 3 month workshop in film. The film deals with an artist and his relationship with his little daughter.
Recently Kailash caught the whole nation’s eye when he decided he wanted to paint the walls around the city with a positive message.
On May 28 while the whole nation had their eyes set on the new Constitution, Kailash and a few friends were busy stroking the walls outside Hotel Himalaya in Kupondole.
The wall painting was done under the project, We Make the Nation, through which he strives to beautify all the dirty walls around the city.
As the second edition of the project, We Preserve the Nation, he and his group painted the wall before Laxmi Bank in Hattisaar.
The latest addition to colorful walls in the city is the Democracy Wall at Baghbazzar.” “Half of the work is done and the remaining will complete this Saturday, I would like to invite anyone interested to join us,” says Kailash.
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