By A Staff Reporter
Kathmandu, Oct. 8: With the aim to support Nepali art, promote the country as an art destination and support children battling cancer, the Museum of Nepali Art (MoNA) organised a “live art congregation” at Kathmandu Guest House, Thamel on Thursday.

As the name suggests, the day-long congregation featured “live art” where 33 artistes, including the likes of Lok Chitrakar, Kiran Manandhar and Gopal Kalapremi Shrestha, painted various visuals in various styles in front of the visitors, with some even taking questions and feedbacks as they worked.
Actor Rajesh Hamal kicked off the event at around noon. The thespian engaged in some artistry himself, painting and signing a portrait, much to the delight of the spectators and other artists.
Hamal’s portrait, along with all the other works created on Thursday has been put up for sale, with part of the proceeds going to be used to support the children fighting cancer at the oncology ward at Kanti Children’s Hospital.

They will also be exhibited at MoNA, which is inside Kathmandu Guest House, on Saturday. The funds collected from their sale will also be handed over to Kanti Hospital on that day.
The art created will also be published as a catalogue
According to the organiser MoNA, the art festival, which began at 12 pm and lasted till 6 pm, had four major objectives – promote Nepali art to national and international audience, help unprivileged children fight cancer, introduce the idea of transforming Thamel’s rapidly expanding west end (better known as the Saat Ghumti area) into an art street dedicated to intellectual, cultural and artistic endeavours and rebrand Nepal as an art destination.

MoNA stated that the establishment of the art street will coincide with the inauguration of the Kathmandu Art House, a physical space where Nepal’s top artists will be able to come together to create, showcase and sell their art.
The live-art fest was supported by Turkish Airlines, Dabur Nepal, KGH Group of Hotels and Resorts, Kathmandu Guest House and Kathmandu Art House.