‘Passing Culture’: Kathmandu’s rich heritage

Whether it is religious or secular, each age and culture develops its own line of imagery that comes to define it in the eyes of each succeeding generation. The beautiful show of Nepalese religious and cultural issues is a splendid example of a culture’s special imagery and of the power of memory.

The work on show served to delight as well as humble with its strength of purpose and sheer artistry. The richness of the works of devoted artist is an inspiration to all dedicated artists.

A well known senior artist Krishna Gopal Ranjit’s 13th solo show entitled "Passing Culture" at J Art Gallery, situated at the Durbar Marg—the business hub of Kathmandu, contains 30 of his latest works.

The artist has produced a broad range of atmospheric impressions of Kathmandu’s religious sites. In so doing he has intelligently grasped the essence and energy of Kathmandu’s cultural heritage. In these recent works, the artist attempts to capture the soul of Nepalese traditional cultural aspects and values and largely succeeds. His documented works proved rich, soil for his urban impressionism.

His impressionistic painting capture well the activity and bustle that makes Kathmandu unique as temple city. His approach is well suited and obviously intended for a cultural city. These landscapes show unanchored floral still-lives in this eclectic collection of medium-scale oils on canvas.

Light too plays an essential role in artist’s depictions. The perfect lighting and early morning scenario boasts impossibly rich, strong, contrasting colours of red, blue, black, brown and white. The curvaceous figure is richly textured with thick daubs of paint, speckles of glue and a small rough strip. The temples and the surrounding locations from Pashupati to Swayambhu, Taleju to Dattatreya, Harati Mata to Indrayani, Thyangboche to Manakamana, Mahankal Bhairav to Swet Bhairav and Kal Bhairav, Annapurna to Krishna Mandir, Bouddha to Maru Ganesh, Narayanhity Royal Palace to Rani Pokhari, Shivaratri to Teej festivals etc. concede to the artist’s sinuous, organic conception of line, light and volume filtered through the historic importance

The diagonal line and the refracted light dominate many of his compositions. As a visual device it serves the painting well, drawing the eye up and across and contributing to the rush and sometimes vertiginous scenes he has singled out.

The viewers could see the impression of the city’s temples with reflected light which powerfully captures the energetic and transient state of Kathmandu. Though the less strong among them lose a measure of credibility in their simplistic vision, the best executed landscapes offer a peek into a secret, enigmatic and primitive world. Few will ever have the privilege or tenacity to view in.

Krishna Gopal Ranjit, who is better known as KG, is particularly convincing in the (often elusive) depiction of fog and smoke, creating an illusion which draws the viewers even further into his fantasy world.

His bright, bold and fresh paintings are a reflection of the pure joy of creativity. His meticulous composition reveals striking suggestions about the relationship between the nature and culture. It seems artist KG is a man of love with his subjects and colours he depicts beyond his calligraphic hands for the snow covered Himalayan ranges that established him as Himalayan Painter world wide.

In many ways, KG‘s paintings are familiar and pleasing to the eye, the thought provoking and refreshingly uninhibited works that detailed cultural and heritage sites’ studies are even more engaging than his landscapes. While the latter have the onerous task of trying to capture and interpret an entire panorama art specific, fleeting moment, the works are aesthetically exciting into their disciplined focus and contextual restraint and are unburdened by narrative and their timeless nature.

With the symbolism and tradition which the religious sites in eastern cultures are clearly not lost on the artist; the creations are being presented to the viewers. The creation of the artist is in strong meditative light, responding thoughtfully to his subject.

Throughout his career, the 66-year-old artist KG’s stylistic path has been far from linear. Periods and series are hardly recognizable as if they are the product of an easily bored intellect.

Such thematic and aesthetic wandering surely has its benefits, including the ability to focus one’s talent on a project basis, allowing oneself to expend all of one’s ideas and energies in rapid fire within the chosen context. All the works hanging on the walls of the gallery are of expressive works filled with dynamic strokes and colours are exceptions to his boldness, his compelling need to express his vitality for life and all its wonders.

From the passion, enthusiasm, and affection evident in his Nepalese oeuvre, there is something dreamy about his artistic creations which suggest a romantic side to KG’s nature as painter and this is obviously what KG has done.

According to the information given at the preview show organized for the press yesterday (Saturday), the exhibition is schedule to be inaugurated by Chairman of Raj Parishad Standing Committee Dr. Keshar Jung Rayamajhi on 3rd of December 2001 and will come to close after office hour on 14th of December.

Behind this authenticity is the artist’s peripatetic existence from his birth place Pokhara to living city Kathmandu, from land to Himalayas and on to abstractism smoky works. For Ranjit, everything authentic is experienced, that is the essence of his success.

The show reflected a concerted commitment and participation on the promotion and contribution of individual artist within a growing global cultural heritage importance.

In this age of competing Isms, artist’s carefully constructed illustrative work of a definable historic past and rapidly changing present is a pleasure to look at.

Meanwhile, Dr. Arzoo Deuba inaugurated the paintings exhibition of Jayasiri Semage of Sri Lanka at Siddhartha Art Gallery, Babar Mahal Revisited on 30th November 2001.

The exhibition has 39 paintings focussing on the age-old traditions and cultures of rural areas as well as people and life-styles of the Sri Lanka and other burning issues.

Through the paintings exhibition the people can be aware and inform about the old traditions. It will also play a pivotal role in promoting the arts and cultures, says Mrs. Deuba while inaugurating the exhibition.

Sri Lankan Ambassador Ms. Pamela J. Deen expressed confidence that the paintings will contribute to further promoting bilateral relations between Nepal and Sri Lanka which have similarity in many areas.

The show will be closed on 10th of December.

Meanwhile, according to the sources, a week-long exhibition of six Nepalese artists’ contemporary paintings is to be held in Plus Gallery of Seoul, Korea from 11th of December.

Nepal-Russia ties stressed

BY A STAFF REPORTER

Kathmandu, Dec. 1: Newly appointed Ambassador of the Russian Federation to Nepal Valery Nazarov has said that efforts are beind made to expand relations between Russia and Nepal in field of cultural ties, civil aviation, tourism promotion and educational cooperation.

Nazarov said this today at a reception organised here today by Nepal-Russia Cultural Association, Nepal Russia Friendship Association and Mitra Kunja at the Russian Cultural Centre.

Stressing the need for revitalising the bilateral ties, Nazarov informed that Russia and Nepal are soon to sign a bilateral agreement on cultural cooperation.

MP Mahesh Mani Dixit, senior advocate Krishna Prasad Bhandari, association professor Bhagwan Ratna Tuladhar, lecturer of journalism Dr Rabin Shakya and senior engineers Rajendra Adhikari and Tej Prasad Gauchan shed light on Nepal-Russia ties.