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VOL. 27, NO. 8, October 05, 2007 (Ashwin 18 2064 B.S.) |
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Love Of Nature
Austrian artist Soshana’s paintings depict various phases of her life
By A CORRESPONDENT
Every artist has their own way of expressing their imagination. Austrian artist Soshana also has her own way. Her works depict life and her paintings portray peculiar characters of human beings.
Nepal has certain unique natural quality which always inspires foreigners. Austrian artist Soshana is one of them. Although she visited Nepal back in 1956-57, she seems to have a long lasting impression on her mind.
This might be the reason why artist Soshana sent her paintings to Nepal to display to celebrate her 80th birthday.
From early childhood to adolescence, artist Soshana portrays various stages of life. There is humane feelings as well as good combination of natural surroundings and vivid imaginations in her paintings.
Having traveled to different parts of the world, artist Soshana has learnt various skills and ways of paintings. After her visit to China, she learned Chinese calligraphy from the Chinese artists. She also learnt how to paint with ink on rice paper and try to say everything with one stroke. “My China trip changed my way of painting. I used to paint figuratively before. Up to this day I am still influenced by what I learned from the Chinese artists,” said Soshana.
Austrian artist Soshana has also recalled experiences of Kathmandu and its surrounding. “In 1957, when I first came to Kathmandu I flew also to Pokhara which was very quiet, serene and beautiful. In fact, I was entranced by Nepal and I wanted to reside there, but I had to continue with my travels and exhibition plans,” said artist Soshana.
Although many things have changed in the last five decades in Kathmandu as it transformed from a very mundane city to city of concrete jungle, Soshana’s still remembers so much about the past of this city.
Although she didn’t come to exhibition, her son Amos Schueller brought her paintings in the capital city. The paintings displayed in Kathmandu contains a selection of her works in oil, acrylic, various mixed techniques and ink. The thematic representation of the works deal with Soshana’s inimitable expressionistic style of antagonism and duality, lights breaks through dense girds and bars open themselves into the bright world of freedom.
Organized by Siddhartha Art Gallery, Soshana’s paintings will be displayed in the gallery till October 2007. Her curious nature has led her to absorb many figurative and symbolic elements, such as the commemoration of the Holocaust. Her paintings reveal the evolution of an artistic personality and characterizes the varied experiences of her life. Her paintings narrate loneliness and innocence. Her depiction of realistic life can be seen in the paintings in which she portrays the grimace distracted with pain.
Soshana decided to visit Nepal in 1956-57 when she was traveling to India. But, her determination was further strengthened when her art dealers described the beauty of Nepal. “In fact, I went to see many other Gurus in India including the Mother Benaraes and Sai Baba in Bangalore and Puttapurty but I didn’t stay with anyone of them for a length of time. I also met my friend Lain Bandel in Paris in those days. But, it was my art-dealer in Zurich, Switzerland, Mr. Max Bollag, who incited the fire in me to visit Nepal. He depicted it in such a beautiful way that the desire grew and grew until I finally made the trip to this Himalayan Kingdom,” said Soshana.
To mark her 80th birthday, a collection of 32 works selected from a huge oeuvre of about 3,000 paintings have been selected.
