Trees: Artifacts of Nature, a painting exhibition by Samjhana, was held on March 3, 2009 in Sanepa’s GTZ office amidst a gathering of people from various backgrounds. Speaking at the inauguration, she said the exhibition was a continuation of her previous art exhibition entitled “Mirage of Nature” held in 2007.
Despite road blocks in several parts of Kathmandu to facilitate the visiting Sri Lankan President, the turn out for the inauguration was impressive. Each guest was provided with a torch to explore paintings of trees hidden among real trees in the GTZ office’s open garden. It was a late evening affair.
Viewing the paintings with the help of torchlight added a sharply sarcastic comment on the ongoing heavy load-shedding Nepal is facing.
Sarcasm aside, the concept was unique though the torchlight made viewing difficult. Thanks to His Excellency Finn Thilsted, the Danish ambassador inaugurated the event by switching the lights on to enable a more detailed viewing of the paintings. “The numbers of trees are increasing around the hills compared to the old days, but the numbers of trees are decreasing in the Valley,” he remarked. He also expressed his concern that buildings would supersede trees in the Valley in the near future.
Although a few of the paintings featured in the exhibition bordered on mundane, the meaning conveyed through Samjhana’s paintings is definitely worthy of praise in her reconnection of nature with humankind. Acrylic paints of various shades of ranging from blue to brown are the mediums she has used on her canvases.
Quixote’s Cove, a soon-to-open bookstore in Jawalakhel organized the event. All in all, 21 canvases were on display. According to organizers, the paintings will be exhibited at Gallery 32 @ Dent Inn for further display from March 5 until the end of the month. Opening hours are 11a.m.- 6 p.m.
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