|
Bottle Of Stories Kalapremi searches new definition of life through Raku potteries
By THAKUR AMGAI
If you are of the opinion that your wealth, experience, education and social status makes your life complete, you are 'wrong' and 'misled' in the eyes of Gopal Das Shrestha, a renowned Nepalese artist, who is also known as Kalapremi.
Kalapremi through his latest exhibition entitled 'Bottle Of Stories' has attempted to define this new meaning to life that stresses on the void-ness.
"Most of us believe that what we acquire (like wealth, knowledge, experience, friends etc) in our lives make it complete," said Kalapremi at the inaugural function of his exhibition. "But my opinion is that you are complete when you have nothing with you."
"That is the message that I have tried to relay through my exhibition of these Raku potteries."
Kalapremi's symbols of life in the form of empty bottles of varying shapes and sizes, some with tree branches protruding from their openings, have filled the floors and table tops of Gallery nine.
The variation in the shapes, sizes and colors among the dozens of bottles displayed represent, in his own words, the variation in the behavior and character of individuals.
Raku is a traditional skill-requiring form of art that originated in Japan in the 16th century. Although it was used to make potteries for household uses in the past, the technique now has taken an aesthetic form. Kalapremi is considered to be the pioneer in Raku potteries in Nepal.
Last year, he had expressed the hopeless state of the country through an exhibition of Raku Potteries displaying broken plates, some fastened with golden color strings to indicate the prevalence of hope even at the oddest situations, at the gallery of National Fine Arts Association (NAFA).
His exhibition this time is an about turn from the theme of his previous exhibition where he attempted to show reality. This time, like in his other past exhibitions, he has used abstractness in expressions.
Kalapremi also demonstrated the process of preparing a Raku at the function. The process involves a rigorous technique demanding both technical skill and creativity.
"Raku pottery is different from ordinary art works in that it also demands technical skills," explained Kalapremi. "We can call it a combination of art and science (i.e., creativity and technology)." The exhibition is on till May 30 at the Gallery Nine.
|
