No31-Kathmandu-Nepal




					Workshop in Kathmandu, Nepal 20 February - 25 February 1996 SIRJANA CONTEMPORARY ART GALLERY ART JAPAN

		The workshop in Nepal took place for five days from 20 February 1995 in the capital city, Kathmandu. This workshop was coordinated by Mr. Takuya Kaneda, a full-time lecturer at Otsuma Women's University. The workshop was conducted by Mr. Baikuntha Man Shrestha, Chairman, Sirjana Contemporary Art Gallery, with the assistance of Mr. Navindra M Rajbhandari, Mr. Krishna Manandhar and Dr. Abihi Subedi; all painters, and several others also joined as supporting staff. The Art Academy which is situated in the city centre was chosen as a venue. The weather being fine during the workshop it was held in the courtyard. This was the first open-air workshop. The participants consisted of 30 children at the ages from seven to fourteen who live around Kathmandu. A rough design of the mural based on the children's sketches was prepared in advance in the drawing class at the Art Gallery. The main theme was "dream of peace in the 2500th year of Buddhism and the pride of the nation and its culture". 2500 years ago, Buddha was born in Nepal. Buddhism is still alive in Nepal although the majority of Nepalese people believe in Hinduism. Nepal is a multi-ethnical nation which consists of many different ethnic groups. It is regarded as one of least-less developed nations in the world. These factors were clearly reflected in the work. The motifs the children adopted are 'a big stupa symbolizing Buddha', 'a wedding band', 'Lady Maya', animals such as 'an elephant' and 'a tiger', 'a crest of the sun, 'a Hindu temple', 'folk dances', 'mountains such as Everest' and so on. While video recording the workshop, the ART JAPAN collected background information on the environment surrounding the culture and children of Nepal. Kathmandu is a culturally complex city formed around the Palace. A festival of polytheism Hinduism took place during our stay. People .believe that over 200 gods will come to greet the King during the festival. The festival took place on the mysterious dark night and looked like symbolizing the tolerant spirits of the Nepalese. Mr. Nepal, Minister of Tourism and Culture, said "Children are trying to understand each other's culture through the images they draw. They will be proud of the workshop". The Mayor of Kathmandu gave a certificate of attendance to each child at the opening reception for the exhibition of the completed mural work in March.
		ORGANISER OF WORKSHOP Takuya Kaneda (Otsuma Women's University) Baikuntha Man Shrestha (Chairman: Sirjana Contemporary Art Gallery) Batsa G.Vaidya. (Artist) Krishna Manandhar (Lecturer,Fine Art Campus) Abhi Subedi (Art Critic) Sharada Man Shrestha (Art Teacher,Sirjana Contemporary Art Gallery) Ujjwol K. Jyapoo (Artist) Surendra Raj Bhattarai (Art Teacher,Sirjana Contemporary Art Gallery) Sharad Ranjit (Assistant Communication Officer, UNICEF) Uttam Kharel (Art Teacher,Sirjana Contemporary Art Gallery) Rajan Kafle (President,Young Artists' Group[YAG]) Pratima Jyapoo (Art Taecher,Sirjana Contemporary Art Gallery) Eureka Shakya (Art Teacher, Sirjana Contemporary Art Gallery) Chandra Garbuja (Art Teacher,Sirjana Contemporary Art Gallery) Saroj Bajradcharya (Art Teacher,Sirjana Contemporary Art Gallery) Navindra M.Rajbhandari (Artist) Shashi Shah (Member,Royal Nepal Academy) SUPPORTED BY PANASONIC Children: ABHISHEK MALLA, 12 AMRITA KHAKUREL, 13 AMUL JOSHI, 9 ANNE SHRESTHA, 10 ANUPALLAVI PRADHAN, 9 ARIK TULADHAR, 12 ASHOK SHAKYA, 13 DIPESH SHRESTHA, 11 JITEN SHRESTHA, 8 KEEPA JYAPOO, 13 MANI RAJBHANDARI, 13 MARINA LAMA, 7 NANDITA NEUPANE, 11 NIRJAL KHADKA, 11 NITIKA RAJBHANDARI, 12 PAWAN MANANDHAR, 12 PRAMESH MALLA, 10 PRANAYA SHRESTHA, 14 PREETI BAJRACHARYA, 12 RICHA PRADHAN, 10 SAILAJA SHRESTHA, 10 SAMA BANU, 12 SAMBID KUMAR WASTI, 7 SAMYAK MANANDHAR, 9 SHAMANTA ACHARYA, 13 SHRADHA TULADHAR, 9 SIRJENDRA RAJBHANDARI, 8 TEJASHWI KHADKA, 10 YAJAL SHRESTHA, 8 YAJU MANANDHAR, 8