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| PRESS RELEASES |
Himalayan News Service, Nepal
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KATHMANDU: Covered with creativity and visions from all over the world, the walls
and rooms of Nepal Art Council stands tall bearing the marks of the making of history.
The first ever-international art festival in Nepal, 'Separating Myth from Reality
' Status of Women' ushered in a new era in the Nepali art scenario.
The biggest
amalgam of artworks ever seen in Nepal officially opened at the Nepal Art Council
on October 30 featuring 109 artists from 24 countries.
"While men are fighting, women are bonding," said Rekha Mody, curator, HabiArt Foundation,
India. And just like she said, it is woman who binds all these artists and the different
media they have chosen together with this festival. The artists have used their
aesthetic sense to express women's strength, struggle, vulnerability, challenges
and also the various shapes and sizes in which society tries to mould her.
The presence of one-time Kumari Rashmila Shakya as the chief guest personified the
two differents views of people's perception of a woman. Once she lived as a myth
' the living goddess Kumari, while she is facing the reality of a woman's life and
working as a software developer today.
Addressing the gathering, Shakya expressed
pride. 'I am so proud that I enjoyed two lives in one. I feel women should never
think that they are backward for they do have the power to bring about changes.'
Also present at the programme was CA member Sapana Pradhan Malla, who after observing
all the artworks, said that every art on display 'speak about the state of woman'.
She added that the theme of the whole festival is the biggest truth of a woman's
life.
'Our challenge is to separate myth from reality, and art is the best tool of advocacy
and also the best tool to bring about change.'
Projecting out the grim paradox of women all over the world, some artists have also
not forgotten the beauty and endurance of a woman. On the one hand, there are martyrs'
women relatives in tears, while on the other there are models walking the ramps
and modern day symbols of Goddess Durga.
Director of Siddhartha Art Gallery Sangeeta Thapa, the brains behind the entire
festival, expressed that the strong message about woman's plight sent by these creations
will help in reducing the invisibility of the women clan in the government's eyes.
As for the artists this festival is a beautiful platform for exchange of ideas and
networking. 'I believe art is free like a bird. At events like these we get to meet
artists with diverse styles and when we come in contact this way, we can keep having
such events. This time it's here, next time it might be some place else,' said Jamal
Al Afghani, curator from Palestine.
Mody believes this event is a step forward for all the artists of this region who
are interconnected by the fact that they share similar problems. Anoli Perara, curator
and artist from Sri Lanka, was pretty impressed with the event. 'It is fantastic
to see an event of this magnitude and it is a very good chance for us all to expand
and refresh our network. This festival opened a whole new door for all of us.' With
her two songs, Barta Gandharva incorporated yet another form of art into the whole
festival.
The international art festival is being showcased at six venues ' Siddhartha Art
Gallery, Baber Mahal Revisited, Nepal Association of Fine Arts (NAFA), Naxal, Imago
Dei Café Gallery, Gairidhara, Kathmandu Contemporary Art Centre, Sanepa, Patan Museum,
Mangal Bazaar and Nepal Art Council, Baber Mahal from October 31 to November 10.
A three-day lecture series by several artists will also be held at the Kathmandu
Contemporary Arts Centre from October 31.
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As published in 'The Hindu' on Wednesday, Apr 02, 2008
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Visual delight: Multi-city art fair organised by Habiart Foundation begins today.
A five-day art fair featuring collections of emerging as well as accomplished senior artists opens at Travancore Palace here on Wednesday.
'Contemporary Art Fairs India-2008' will see the participation of 15 representative art institutions, art galleries and artists groups. It will showcase paintings, terracotta, bronze sculptures and host activities like a workshop on Canadi an calligraphy to popularise various art forms among Delhiites.
An important highlight of the fair will be an interesting workshop titled 'Taare Zameen Par' in which some adults and children will participate in an on-the-spot paint competition much like the climax of Aamir Khan's much appreciated movie.
Encourage interaction
According to the fair director Isha Mody, representatives of art institutions, art galleries and artists groups will get a platform to interact and exchange notes with each other.
Organised by Habiart Foundation, the multi-city art fair is aimed at encouraging both international and regional involvement as well as provide exposure to art. The recent success of the Foundation's Kolkata Art Fair in February this year has proved that art aficionados keenly look forward to this annual treat.
Platform for new talent
Apart from exhibiting a wide and varied range of modern Indian painters and sculptors who have carved a niche for themselves, the fair will showcase new upcoming talent with great potential. Thus connoisseurs of art will get an opportunity to make good art-investments.
Madhur Tankha
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