Joint art exhibition of three friends

By A Staff Reporter,Kathmandu, Feb. 25: The fifth collective painting exhibition titled ‘Combination’ by artists Arya Rajbhandari, Chandani Bajracharya and Renuka Maharjan is currently being held at the Nepal Art Council in Kathmandu.

They were classmates while studying their Bachelor’s degree at Lalitkala Campus. Back in 2002, the three art students initiated an art exhibition titled ‘Petals.’ 

They aimed to express their artistic perspectives, passion and devotion on a shared platform, particularly through paintings and sculptures. 

 The exhibition explores the creative perspectives of three young women artists through painting and sculpture series. 

In particular, Arya has depicted Nepali monasteries, temples and heritage through a series based on tundal. Following a semi-abstract style, Arya has also drawn upon elements of folk art in her tundal series. The exhibition features 26 of her paintings. She has sought to introduce novelty into her art by incorporating the crown of Ganesh within the tundal series.

 Artist Arya said, “The forms in my art have gradually evolved. In that process, the tundal series was born. While bringing woodcarving onto canvas, I have blended certain shapes and emotions with background feelings and colour combinations.”

Sculptor Chandani has brought religious and cultural heritage into sculptural form, incorporating Buddhist mantras and verses in Newar scripts (Ranjana, Bhujimol and the current Nepal script).

The sculptures, prepared using Nepali handmade paper and inscribed with Newar scripts and Buddhist mantras and verses, may represent a new series in Nepali art.

 The use of ancient scripts within a modern style presents a striking combination. The exhibition includes eight of her sculptures and eleven paintings from her bird series. 

Chandani’s birds, created on 3-by-3-inch canvases, have become a particular attraction of the exhibition.

The paintings of artist Renuka Maharjan reveal nature and beauty. Influenced by Buddhist philosophy, Renuka has depicted four forms of Avalokiteshvara on canvas. 

In Buddhist philosophy, Avalokiteshvara is regarded as the embodiment of compassion. Among her 22 artworks, most present the emotion, colour and aesthetic qualities of flowers.

Following a realist artistic approach, Renuka has combined flowers with life and emotion. She said, “Flowers are life. They are emotion. A life filled with ups and downs is impossible to express in words.”

Through the beauty and colour arrangements of flowers, Renuka has expressed life’s fluctuations and emotions. Her use of colour brings both warmth and coolness to the canvas.

The three-day exhibition Combination, in which these three artists seek the colours of life and the world on canvas, will continue until Tuesday.