Visual diary of a personal journey

Kathmandu, Sept. 20: Artist Umesh Shrestha charts his life and career in his latest solo exhibition that began at the Siddhartha Art Gallery on September 8.

Titled ‘From Mundane Friction to Self Flow’, the exhibition is a depiction of Shrestha’s growth as an artist, from an inexperienced yet enthusiastic young man to the professional of today. It is a visual diary of his personal journey of creativity. And, it is the narrative of how a young boy, who began painting under the warm auspices of his grandfather in Dolakha, carved out a space for himself in the art environment of the nation’s capital Kathmandu.

As Sangeeta Rana Thapa, co-founder and director of the Siddhartha Art Gallery, informed during the opening of the display, Shrestha came, or was rather sent, to Kathmandu to pursue an education in Engineering. But his soul took him into the arts and he has not looked back since.

Shrestha has 54 artworks on display at the  ‘From Mundane…’, showcasing his skills on a variety of media including canvas, wooden plank and paper, and with various implements like oil, pen and watercolour. The works present a wide range of subjects – the painter’s home district of Dolakha, revolution, religious symbolism and more – but they are all united under the theme of Umesh Shrestha.

Shrestha is himself the theme of his exhibition. This is his statement, his progression and his expression. An artist laying himself bare in front of his audience may not be a novel concept but it is brave. He has made himself vulnerable and opened himself to judgment through this exhibition. Veteran artist Kiran Manandhar, who is also the former chancellor of the Nepal Academy of Fine Arts, wrote in his message published in the art show’s catalogue, “[Shrestha’s] works are distinguished visual compositions of contemporary Nepal.”

He also interpreted what the bell – an object Shrestha often includes in his paintings – symbolised. “Many artists make images of bells but [Shrestha’s] bell is unique, for he expresses feelings, emotions and visions through it. It emanates sounds of spirituality, and of harmony, humanity and peace.”

He advised against affixing a single meaning to the symbol though for he felt it depended on the aesthetics the artist assigned to it. Shrestha’s bells portray connections to divinity, embrace of modernity, social justice, peace and love of all kinds. ‘From Mundane…’ is Shrestha’s third solo exhibition, after 2006’s painting display in Seoul, South Korea, and 2011’s ‘Native Images’ in Charikot, Dolakha. 

It was inaugurated by former member of the House of Representatives Dibya Mani Rajbhandari. The exhibition remains open till September 29 and people can visit between 11 am to 5 pm from Sunday to Friday and 12 pm to 5 pm on Saturday. Entry is free to all.