The Nepal Weekly 
September 17, 2024
The Himalayan Art Festival, launched in 2017, is an annual event that brings over 150 contemporary Nepali artists, showcasing a stunning array of paintings, paubha, sculptures, printmaking, installations, and ceramics, according to a press release. It adds that the festival also promotes corporate investment in art and provides a platform for local collectors and buyers to explore and engage with Nepali art practices, solidifying its place as a cornerstone of Nepal’s art community.
More to just being an exhibition, the festival also claims to be “an immersive cultural experience … that features art talks, guided tours, interactive workshops, the Prashanta Scholarship Award, promoting dialogue and learning within the art community”.
Each year the festival also felicitates a master artist for making a significant impact on Nepali art, according to the statement; and for the seventh edition this year senior artist and former vice-chancellor of Nepal Academy of Fine Arts (NAFA), Sharada Chitrakar, was recognised for exceptional dedication and invaluable contributions to the Nepali art sector.
The seven-day festival, aims to establish an annual arts event that highlights the aesthetic value of art across various sectors and encourages Nepali corporate houses to invest in local art. It also provides a platform for local collectors and buyers to explore and engage with Nepali art practices.
Each year, a master artist is recognised for their significant impact on Nepali art. For the 7th edition, the festival celebrates Senior Artist and Former Vice-Chancellor of the Nepal Academy of Fine Arts (NAFA), Sharada Chitrakar, for her exceptional dedication.
The exhibition includes art works by both established and emerging artists, providing a comprehensive overview of Nepal’s contemporary art landscape. The festival serves as a platform to promote Nepali art, encourage artists, and evaluate the current standards of Nepali art.
The exhibition had showcased creations of Batsa Gopal Vaidya, Madan Chitrakar, Krishan Manandhar, Kiran Manandhar, Shashikala Tiwari, Shyam Lal Shrestha, Manish Lal Shrestha, Navindra Rajbhandari, Jupiter Pradhan, Rabindra Shrestha, Jeevan Rajopadhyay, Laya Mainali, Debendra Singhkhwal, Raj Kafle,
Asha Dangol, Arina Tamrakar, Sangee Shrestha, Samjhana Rajbhandari, Bhai Raja Maharjan, Pramila Bajracharya, Prithvi Shrestha, Binod Pradhan, Shushma Rajbhandari, Sima Shah, Vidhata KC, Sagar Manandhar, Sarita Dangol, Ishan Pariyar, Sundar Lama, Puja Duwal, Hitesh Vaidya, Viplab Pratik, Wang Lama and others.
