By Renuka Dhakal
Kathmandu, Jan.5: A 10-day virtual caricature exhibition about personalities contributing to different sectors of society has begun.
KK Karmacharya, Vice-Chancellor of Nepal Academy of Fine Arts, inaugurated the Nepali Caricature 077 workshop, competition and exhibition conducted through online gallery Nepal.com on Friday.
Subodh Pokharel came first, Bishwa Thapa second and Prakash Thapa third in the competition. They received Rs. 15,000, Rs. 10,000 and Rs. 5,000 respectively.
Organised by the Department of Architecture and Other Creative Arts of the Nepal Academy of Fine Arts and the Cartoonist Club of Nepal, the exhibition features more than four dozen caricatures of three dozen caricaturists.
In the exhibition, caricatures of KK Karmacharya, Madan Chitrakar, Mahabir Pun, Dr. Sanduk Ruit, journalist Kishor Nepal, writer Kumar Nagarkoti, actor Dayahang Rai, Dr. Govinda KC, singer Udit Narayan Jha, actor Sunil Thapa, Avin Shrestha, Sujan Chitrakar, Bipin Karki, Manoj Gajurel, Rajesh Hamal, Samragyee Rajyalakshmi Shah, Santosh Pant, Ravi Lamichhane and others are showcased.
Works of caricature artists, including Abin Shrestha, Abhinas Malla, Ashok Man Singh, Binaya Rimal, Bikash Tamaku, Bhannu Bhattarai, Bhim Subba Tamang, Baman Chalise, Birochan Malla Bishwo Thapa, Deepak Gautam, Devendra Thumkeli, Dinesh Pradhan, Jeevan Rajopadhyay, Kamal Gosai, Keshab Raj Khanal, Krishna Gopal Shrestha, Mashesh Bastakoti, NB Gurung, Nabin Naibo, Padma Ghale, Prakash Thapa and Rabi Mishra among others are put in the display.
According to Ramesh Nath Khanal, Head of Architecture and All Creative Art Department of Nepal Academy of Fine Arts, caricature is an act of exaggerating someone’s face and it has begun in Nepal for many years.
“Especially during the Gaijatra period, the Gaijatras walk in front and they exaggerate by imitating someone by showing gestures. I think it's a caricature. Physical performance is more vivid,” Khanal added.
The exhibition used to be held physically every year, but this year it has been organised virtually for the continuation of the caricature exhibition due to COVID-19, said Khanal.
Debendra Thumkeli, General Secretary of Cartoonist Club of Nepal, said that the art of exaggerating a person’s physical appearance through colour and line is called a caricature in which the person’s appearance is exaggerated by maintaining the person’s identity.
Caricature is the part of cartoon, and the exhibition has been regularly held for four years in Nepal, said Thumkeli.
The exhibition will continue until January 11.