International Mountain Art Festival underway in Mustang

By A Staff Reporter,Kathmandu, Oct. 22: The first edition of the International Mountain Art Festival (IMAF) is taking place in Jomsom, Mustang, from October 18–24. In a press statement, the International Mountain Art Festival said, “IMAF celebrates and highlights the beauty, culture, and importance of mountain communities and landscapes through various art forms. It provides a local and global platform for artists to share their interpretations of mountain regions through painting, sculpture, photography, film and music”

International artists participating in the festival include Direk Kingnok and Ekaraj WSP from Thailand, Iwa Kruczkowska from Poland, Stefan Balog from Romania, Jampel Cheda from Bhutan,  Emmy Go from Indonesia and Cheng Han-Wen from Taiwan.

 Nepali artists attending are Shreejan Rajbhandari, Erina Tamrakar, Hare Ram Joju, NB Gurung, Wang Lama, Manoj Tamang, Aakash Gurung, Nabin Nalbo and Dhwoj Gurung.

By uniting artists, environmentalists and communities, the festival will facilitate dialogue, creativity and collaboration toward the preservation and celebration of mountain communities and cultures, read the press release. 

The festival aims to raise awareness about the significance of mountains, emphasising their role as vital ecosystems with numerous environmental benefits.  It promotes cultural exchange, and appreciation for the diverse communities living in these regions and seeks to boost responsible tourism, it said.