National 6 (Spotlight Weekly)

Character Content

Uttam Kharel compares and contrasts human character through 33 paintings

By BINITA PANDEY

Appearance of the human character and visual sense are on display at a solo exhibition of paintings by Uttam Kharel at the Sirjana Contemporary Art Gallery.

Human characters resemble each other only partially. At some places they do not match at all and at others they are contradictory. The human character comprises on one side rush, fatigue, depression, horror, anger and envy, and reveals on the other side motivation, inquisitiveness and interest.

Kharel's works span this breadth. Altogether 33 abstract paintings both in oil and watercolor are presented in a concrete form under the theme "The Characters 2003". When abstract feelings are presented in concrete form, the characters of the image gradually fade away and something superb comes forth. The paintings of Kharel are priced between Rs4,000 and Rs15,000.

Kharel, who was born in 1960 at Baluwa village in Kavrepalanchok district, has showcased his works in various settings. He participated in a group exhibition at the Birla Academy, Kolkata, India in 1992 under the theme "Introduction Nepal ". His works were featured at the 5th Biennale Exhibition in Dhaka, Bangladesh in 2001 and National Art Exhibition (NAFA) 1980-2002.

Kharel has won different awards, including the Araniko Rastriya Yuwa Kala Prize, Rastriya Yuwa Sewa Kosh, in 2001, gold medal from the Annual Art Exhibition, Young Artists Group in 1983 and best prize at the 20th National Art Exhibition (NAFA) in 1985. In 2000, he won the first prize at the 30th National Art Exhibition. He worked as secretary of Young Artists' Group from 1992 to 1996 and was executive member of Sirjana Contemporary Art Gallery in 1992. He was secretary of Creative Artists' Society in 1999 and worked as member of the subject committee of the Sculpture Department, Tribhuvan University in 2001.

The painter began conceiving feelings and images in non-figurative forms about a decade ago. However, the exercise of expressing those feelings started continuously only a few years back. "I spent quite some time in creating third dimensional objects but my real achievement is as I personally feel, the one which is in front you," said Kharel.

His skills have won the hearts of the masters. "Kharel has been successful in bringing out extraordinarily intense and restful forms, using dark brown, black and red colours to depict the concept, value and the authority of abstract paintings and he is successful in bringing out extraordinarily intense and artful forms," said senior artist Uttam Nepali.

This is his maiden attempt in using different shade, binding the images with strokes, colors and expression to present his insight. Strong dark colors are heavily used to concentrate on the theme and to drive deep into its core. "I prefer application of the dark colors with the intent of making my expression vocal and more dynamic than it would be in verbal metaphor," said Kharel. "In my view, today's negative traits rather than positive ones have engulfed human psychology. I wish the fundamental human aspects would direct toward positivism."

Human sensitivity is accelerating at such a pace today that creativity has no limit or compromise anywhere. Such a state broadens the horizon of creation. Since it is not possible to express feelings and images in limited objective terms, one has to advance toward abstract presentation. This is the main characteristic of Kharel's presentation.

"My conviction tells me that 'nothing is abstract at all'. I hope the viewers little effort will find out the comprehension and its charm. The method of observation supports this exercise. The difference between the concepts of the creator and the viewer will help each other too, and their concept will cohere," Kharel said. "It is not true that the creator alone understands his piece of art; a clever viewer who can discern will find some active bases facilitating his understanding of a piece of art," he added.

Sri Lankan Ambassador to Nepal Asirwataham inaugurated the exhibition on March 28, which will be open to the public till April 13. "Art is a mode of communication and expressions of feelings, if you are illiterate about art that art will be meaningless," Ambassador Asirwataham said. The creator is said to be successful in his work when the viewers get close to the creation by following the bases, a test Kharel has rigorously adhered to.