National 6 (Spotlight Weekly)

City Of Gods

Prakash Chandwadkar explores the core of the religious beliefs of Kathmandu's inhabitants

By NIRAJ POUDYAL

Like most visitors to Kathmandu, Prakash Chandwadkar has been charmed by the city's gods, mantras and temples. The painter and photographer from the Indian state of Maharashtra has gone a step ahead to re-create the valley's heritage in his own image.

"When I came to Kathmandu four years ago looking for inspiration, I discovered a city full of belief in divine powers and people immersed in worship," he said at the opening ceremony of his exhibition of painting, sculpture, photography and installation art titled "Shakti Sthal" (Seats of Power). The exhibition, which started on December 8, will continue until January 8, 2003 at the Siddhartha Art Gallery.

Sculpture of God : Divine art

Chandwadkar had presented "Leaf Series" in 1999, "From the Bodhi Tree" in 2000 and "Bamiyan Buddhas" last year. He has visited 1,200 temples, inheritance of faith handed down to us by our Hindu and Buddhist ancestors, in the valley to explore why the people are attracted to the power seats.

Eleven "Batuks" from the Ved Vidya Ashram presented the Shanti Mantra before inaugurating the exhibition. The show consists of sculpture and installation art. The exhibition has tried to explore the energy drawn from worship and the mantra "Satyam Shivam Sundaram" (Truth and Shiva/God are beautiful). Amazed by the depth of the faith of the valley's people, Chandwadkar says, "Even a small and meaningless stone is worshiped as god with full faith, with red earth, two flowers, vermilion and incense sticks".

Chandwadkar's paintings are basically on vinyl print, acrylic on canvas and mixed media. All his works are the indirect reflection of the photos that he took in the course of his visit of the temples, mixed with his inner enjoyment and achievement of the source of creation and energy.

His works, whether a photo, painting, sculpture or installation art, are based on the theme of god, which the artist considers as nature, mother and the earth itself. He has chosen Shiva, the ultimate god of dance, as the major actor of his works, since Shiva created the universe through a dance called Tandav Nritya.

Whether it is the painting titled "Shiva Ganesh", photo titled "Women With Shiva" or installation sculpture titled "Shakti Sthrot", Chandwadkar's intention is to depict the creative power of Lord Shiva and the character of continuity of his creation through fertility.

The exhibition contains a "Puja Cabinet" on the second floor of the gallery, 300 photographs rowed along the intersection of the floor and the four walls, the contemporary installation of the "linga" and "mandala" with four television sets that provide equal adoration and homage to Shiva from all sides.

The installation explores the source of energy or creation. The exhibition also discovers the marriage of Hindu and Buddhist symbolism. A dance performed by a Chinese and a Nepalese artist is featured on TV reflecting the necessity and importance of the attraction of the male shakti to the female shakti and vice versa. This dance is set to the song "Mother is Earth". The sequences of the dance celebrate the creation of the universe, fertility that is the momentum of creation.

"This kind of artistic effort helps people understand the meaning of their religion and the peace of mind that can be found around the Shakti Sthals," a spectator said.

"Art is the visualization of constant change. Painting is the joy of seeking contact with eternity, with the universal force," said Chandwadkar. Joy indeed for the artist and his admirers.