Deities of Nepal II
some Nepali art to enjoy
It’s been a while since I’ve attended an art exhibit. There were a few years when I visited more than I can count, and wrote about them, too, as editor of a local magazine.
Having been to so many, I can say that Deities of Nepal II is one of the best sort: a creative, well-curated collection that brings together work from many artists, in many styles. There were beautiful examples of traditional work: paintings, wood and stone carvings and intricate metalwork—and also collages, pen-and-ink drawings and modern installations that used light and projection in interesting ways and encouraged visitor interaction.
Pale, washed-out looking images that sprang to life when photographed with a flash.
A small shrine with a bell visitors were encouraged to ring, as at temples across Nepal.
Familiar religious images with a twist you might not notice unless you really looked.
Nepal’s gods and goddesses brought to life in so many memorable ways.
From the simple to the intricate: 235 pieces of art by 163 different artists, all under one roof, displayed and organized in a really thoughtful, interesting way across four floors and I don’t know how many rooms.
If you’re reading this from Kathmandu, the exhibition runs until June 10th at Nepal Art Council in Babar Mahal and entry is free, so stop in if you can.
If you can’t make it, and for those of you far away, here is some of what struck me most—and that photographed well, too, because as with all art, some things can’t be captured. Despite that, I still had many more pictures I wanted to post here than was realistic; these are probably still too many. Never mind. You can look through as many or as few as you want.
I hope you enjoy this little glimpse of Nepal’s fabulous art: just know there’s a lot more.
