Nepal-China art show held in Beijing

By A Staff Reporter,Kathmandu, Dec. 30: On the occasion of the 70th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and Nepal, an art exhibition ‘Dialogue across Mountains: A Collection of Fine Thangkas from China and Nepal’ was held in Beijing, China.

According to a press statement received here, the event was jointly organised by Sichuan Fine Arts Press, Sichuan International Cultural Exchange Centre, and Araniko Friendship House in Beijing. A book on the same topic was also launched. 

Former State Councillor of China Hu Peiyuan, Nepal’s Chargé d’Affaires to China, Roshan Khanal, representative of the Embassy of Nepal in China, and other notable figures attended the event. 

The newly released book features 99 outstanding artworks, comprising 66 Nepali Paubha paintings and 33 Chinese Thangka paintings.

 Written and edited by Qiao Guojin, Nepal’s cultural and art ambassador and founder of Arniko Friendship House, and Liu Zhongjun, a first-class artist of the Sichuan Art Gallery, the book highlights artistic comparisons and cultural similarities between the two countries.

 Conceptualiser and author Qiao Guojin, while speaking to the media, said that the book presents a comparative study of the Newar community’s indigenous art ‘Paubha’ and the Thangka traditions of Tibet, Qinghai, and Sichuan. He noted that introducing Newar Thangka internationally as ‘Paubha’ marks a significant academic achievement. 

Representing the Embassy of Nepal in China, Chargé d’Affaires Roshan Khanal highlighted that geographical proximity and cultural similarities have fostered warm relations between the peoples of Nepal and China since ancient times. She expressed hope that the collection would inspire future artists and serve as an important resource for art lovers.

The exhibition also saw the participation of renowned Nepali Paubha artist Raj Prakash Tuladhar, artist Ujjay Bajracharya, and heads and representatives of various organisations based in Beijing.