Shah’s exhibition draws crowd

By A Staff Reporter, Kathmandu, Mar. 29: Artist Umesh Shah’s ongoing painting exhibition titled ‘Allegories of Mithila Art, Culture and Lifestyle’ is attracting hundreds of art lovers at Bikalpa Art Centre in Pulchowk, Lalitpur. 

Shah has been established as one of the prominent contemporary artists of Nepal. According to artist Shah, hundreds of people from all walks of life have visited his ongoing exhibition till date. 

The exhibition inaugurated on March 15 will close on Wednesday (March 29). It is his fifth solo exhibition.

Out of his four solo exhibitions held in the past, one was exhibited in India.  He has participated in dozens of group exhibitions and workshops in Nepal, India, Japan and Russia.

His artworks have been in major public and private collections in Nepal, India, Japan, European countries, South America and the USA. 

Artist Shah currently works as a faculty of drawing and painting at the Central Department of Fine Art, Tribhuvan University.

The current exhibition showcases the artist’s penetration of the analogy of mythical and terrestrial allegory of ancient and modern Mithila culture.

Inspired by the matrimonial ceremonies and other rituals of Mithila region where Shah was born, brought up and spent his adolescent years keenly observing how Mithila women used to employ sticks wrapped in a cloth to paint and decorate walls with large murals of traditionally made colours, Shah penetrates the analogy of mythical and terrestrial allegory of ancient and modern Mithila Culture of Nepal. 

He personalises them by alluding to many different societal as well as personal matters of loss, hopes as well as refusal, and empowerment.

The majority of his works have been made employing oil or acrylic colours on large-sized canvases by using firstly, a wash of the darkest tones, and then lighter highlights on his subjects’ facial features and prominent anatomical structures.

Most of the showcased works feature female characters drawn as an embodiment of beauty and a reflection of the picturesque rural ambience of Mithila region.   

He doesn’t just limit his style to the form of the Mithila Art but draws artworks based on rigorous self-study and his in-depth comprehensive skills.

Shah said, “I have taken inspiration from the peculiar style of Egyptian art as well, prominently its eye-catching geometric style, parted legs, distinctive torso, bold exaggerated lips, with which I very much resonate.”