EXPOSITION
Shanti Yagya

Artist Uma Shankar Shah resorts to brushes and canvasses in the quest for peace in the country

By A CORRESPONDENT

The violent insurgency in the country and the subsequent bloodshed has evoked artists, writers, singers, all alike, creators of all genres. In the recent months at least half the paintings hung on the galleries depict images related in one or the other way to the tragedy brought about by conflict. At a time when the canvasses are chiefly covered with torn out human body parts, blood oozing out, grim faces of victims, Artist Uma Shankar Shah has brought out a series of paintings depicting the present situation of the country without any of these elements.

“My works reflect the present situation of the country,” says Uma Shankar Shah. But, his paintings does not show images of violence, bloodshed, neither the grim faces of the victims of conflict. Instead, it goes one step further to call upon all to end conflict. By depicting temples, prayer wheels and images of deities, he attempts to stimulate the spiritual feeling of the public.

To show the situation Shah focuses on the use of warm colors, unlike the popular trend of using forms to depict a situation. “I extensively used warms colors in my paintings,” said Shah. The warms colors (like red, orange, yellow, brown etc) depict that the society is being heated.

With the depiction of the situation, Shah also proposes a solution to the crisis. “All the endeavors to restore peace have failed in Nepal . At this time we should evoke spirituality within ourselves,” said Shah “Spirituality only will help establish peace in the country.”

The images of temples used extensively in his oil paintings as well as etchings represent the symbol for spirituality.

The monumental sized prayer wheels, temples piled up one above the other, and Hindu deities in different postures stare at the viewers, as if calling upon all to start preparing for a grand enchanting (Shanti Yagya) for peace.

Shah who has organized several shows in Nepal and abroad is deeply inspired by the elements of night, evening and morning. Many of his paintings show temples and deities in these settings. Moreover, the long period he spent in Benaras - the city of temples - during his studies reflects in his painting. From Benaras to Kathmandu , the artist has always found himself in the vicinity of temples. In his paintings, he has tried to show the combination of the cultural aspect of both cities.

The exhibition is on at Siddhartha Art Gallery from March 26 to April 18.