Art has evolved in Nepal by embracing its traditional and cultural roots, as well as moving with time with numerous western art movements. Contemporary art embraces both of these elements, and moves a step further in acting as a means of activism, advocacy and liberalization. Postmodern and contemporary art carry a great preponderance that reflect the spirit of the time, whether it be through unique metaphors and symbolisms that artists adopt, or through visually provoking contents that hook the viewer in uniquely intriguing ways. Throughout the time, artists have explored art forms and mediums that are highly experimentative, innovative and one that vastly employs the sue of cutting-edge technology with contemporary ideas and humanitarian perspectives.
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Closely intertwined with the vibrant culture and religious beliefs of our country are the various forms of art- visual, decorative, religious or spiritual, which bedeck the country and depict the subtlest nuances of Nepali societies. From meticulously painted Thankas, colorful Mithilas and sacred Paubhas to breathtakingly carved buildings and architecture, traditional Nepali art has cultural, religious as well as decorative purposes and they’ve always succeeded in masterfully carving a picturesque depiction of classical Nepali societies.
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Kathmandu Triennale 2077, the largest and most ambitious artistic project staged in the country to date, adopts a vibrant and collaborative approach which encompasses not just such a variety of styles and genres, but also a multitude of different art mediums across five culturally and historically significant venues in the Kathmandu valley, interconnecting art, nations, culture and human expression under a single umbrella of what we today consider as “contemporary art”.
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Nepali communities have never failed to amuse us with their idiosyncratic cultural and moral roots, and Nepali art is something that is not only based on tradition, and cosmopolitan influences, but a shared national history. The way art evolved from traditional to contemporary seems to be deeply inculcated in the way the rulers of Nepal exercised their power over the people and the way societies were, in consequence, structured. Because of the close intertwinement of our art and culture with the country’s history and civilization, the evolution of Nepali art is steeped in socio-political contexts, which can be tracked down into a number of different stages.
Furthermore, it is important to note how modernism and postmodernism were introduced in Nepal, and affected by various governmental and political decisions, all of which, leads us to the contemporary scene of Nepali art because the history of Nepal is inseparable from the way art has evolved here. -
Vipassana, an ancient meditation technique preached by Gautam Buddha, is a philosophy of “clear seeing” or “insight” characterized by the practice to see things as they really are, instead of how we want them to be. It is an art of living, a way of being and seeing things that strengthens one’s capacity to remain equanimous to the pleasures and pains of life, to success and failures. Based on the path of Dhamma (the Noble Eightfold Path taught by Buddha) Vipassana helps one develop the wisdom of impermanence and equanimity, and through its non-sectarian, universal approach, enables one to feel, on an experiential and utmost visceral level, the futility in generating feelings of attachment of aversion, thus, making life more peaceful, liberating and harmonious.
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Narayan Gopal, also known popularly as the “Swor Samrat”, or “The Emperor of Voice” was a prominent and evergreen Nepali singer and composer who has thoroughly entertained and enthralled us for generations with his impeccable musical talent. Renowned for his impeccable voice and heart-wrenching songs composed mostly on sitar, harmonium and flute, Narayan Gopal was also known as “The King of Tragedy” his melancholic heart-rending songs. His legacy remains engraved deep into the hearts of every Nepali soul as one of the greatest boons Nepali music industry has ever received.