NATIONAL8 (Spotlight Weekly]

Of Art And Realities

Known for her penchant at drawing faces of people, Jane Salter exhibits a collection of her paintings

By A CORRESPONDENT

She has been drawing faces of Nepalese people for more than a decade. And yet Jan Salter, British-born artist, continues to make more of these.

Renowned for her "Faces of Nepal" series, Salter is currently organizing an exhibition of her collection at the NAFA Hall Naxal.

The exhibition, organized by the Himal Association, contains nearly 200 paintings by Salter. The exhibition is a two-in-one containing paintings titled "Faces of Nepal" and "All Our Daughters".

Salter, who has made Nepal her second home since 1970s, has been making paintings of Nepalese faces ever since.

Having traveled to different parts of the country, Salter has captured people from most of the ethnic communities in her canvas. "Nepal is a universe in itself. You can find every kind of human face among the different ethnic communities residing here," says Salter.

Her close observation of the Nepalese society is self-evident from her vivid portrayal of the faces. From Bahun, Newar, Rai, Gurung, Tamang and Limbu of hilly regions to Dolpo, Sherpa of mountains and Tharu, Musahar, Dhimal and Danuwar of Terai, Salter's collection embraces people from diverse ethnic divide.

The second part of the Salter's exhibition containing paintings of victims of girl trafficking titled "All Our Daughters" is a more moving one. She has been drawing portraits of these girls, currently residing in Maiti Nepal, since 1997.

It is a poignant portrayal of hard realities that afflicts the contemporary Nepalese society. Again, the paintings of these victims show how the ruthless tentacles of traffickers have grasped girls cutting across ethnic divide.

As apparent in her paintings, Salter is moved by the horrors these girls have undergone. Painted in a dark and somber mood, the pictures invoke a feeling of helplessness and utter disgrace on the society that tolerates such medieval and bestial behavior.

Salter says it is a stirring experience to draw the paintings of these girls. Conned by their own communities, most of these girls return carrying the deadly HIV virus from the brothels of India before they even complete their teen years.

"When you paint them, they seem like normal girls. But when you return sometime back and find some of them gone forever, you realize the bitter realities of their life," says Salter. Two young girls depicted in this exhibition have since died.

The dual exhibition takes the viewers through different stages of Salter's development. From earlier paintings that were more realistic, Salter has started cultivating her talents to impressionistic ones.

All of Salter's paintings are based on human beings. From drawings to oil paints, all of her creations are based on human lives.

"Every artist has a specific field. I am seen to be best at portraits. But this does not mean that I don't like landscape paintings," she says.

Interestingly, Salter does not sell her paintings. "I draw paintings mainly to raise awareness. If I sell them, they will end up in the drawing rooms of some rich persons. And thus, the reason for which I draw will be lost."

The present exhibition of Jan Salter's paintings is being hosted in the serene and spacey surroundings of the NAFA hall.