ART & ARTIST
By Razen Manandhar
By Razen Manandhar
KATHMANDU, April 11 - When God forbids, nobody can
accomplish what he wishes. It was cruel of the Almighty to snatch away
Indra Pradhan just a week before he could resume his one-man show,
leaving his paintings behind for three whole years. Eventually, more than
a hundred paintings by the artist are on show as a retrospective
exhibition at the Nepal Art Council Gallery.
accomplish what he wishes. It was cruel of the Almighty to snatch away
Indra Pradhan just a week before he could resume his one-man show,
leaving his paintings behind for three whole years. Eventually, more than
a hundred paintings by the artist are on show as a retrospective
exhibition at the Nepal Art Council Gallery.
The paintings in the collection speak of a whole age
- the most fruitful one after the concept of contemporary art entered
Nepal. Pradhan was not alone. The atmosphere remained always a welcome
and the artists from Nepal or those who completed their studies abroad,
were collectively painting the whole city with novel colours, concepts
and techniques. It could be more than a coincidence that after the demise
of Pradhan, the Nepali art world witnessed a sort of void which is yet to
be filled by the present artists. Both sides of the truth is equally
conspicuous.It was fortunate that Pradhan lived in the decade when
artists were very active and also the era got an artist like Pradhan who
made an impact in the contemporary artists circle with never-tiring
enthusiasm.
- the most fruitful one after the concept of contemporary art entered
Nepal. Pradhan was not alone. The atmosphere remained always a welcome
and the artists from Nepal or those who completed their studies abroad,
were collectively painting the whole city with novel colours, concepts
and techniques. It could be more than a coincidence that after the demise
of Pradhan, the Nepali art world witnessed a sort of void which is yet to
be filled by the present artists. Both sides of the truth is equally
conspicuous.It was fortunate that Pradhan lived in the decade when
artists were very active and also the era got an artist like Pradhan who
made an impact in the contemporary artists circle with never-tiring
enthusiasm.
Broadly speaking, the paintings of Pradhan are
centred in nature and cultural phenomena. Mountains, trees, landscapes,
masks, fish, portraits and abstract ones make the collection a spectrum
in the world of the artists psyche. Among them, masks have become an
idiosyncrasy- the result of the artists deep concern to culture and
religion from the days of his childhood. There are 27 paintings in this
series and 27 abstract paintings, which are mainly the creations of his
later period of studying, basically, nature, in vague yet deep level. The
Tree series has 25 paintings. Fishes, faces, flowers and landscapes
characterise Pradhan as an artist who loved nature at different
levels from different viewpoints. Besides, about a dozen of portraits
done in his earlier period, which include men and women of various ages,
including a nude, are the evidence that indicates how seriously he had
studied human figures and sentiments.
centred in nature and cultural phenomena. Mountains, trees, landscapes,
masks, fish, portraits and abstract ones make the collection a spectrum
in the world of the artists psyche. Among them, masks have become an
idiosyncrasy- the result of the artists deep concern to culture and
religion from the days of his childhood. There are 27 paintings in this
series and 27 abstract paintings, which are mainly the creations of his
later period of studying, basically, nature, in vague yet deep level. The
Tree series has 25 paintings. Fishes, faces, flowers and landscapes
characterise Pradhan as an artist who loved nature at different
levels from different viewpoints. Besides, about a dozen of portraits
done in his earlier period, which include men and women of various ages,
including a nude, are the evidence that indicates how seriously he had
studied human figures and sentiments.
The size of his paintings are as varied as the
topics he had chosen. The exhibition holds paintings from 67.5"X89.5" to
10.5"X10.5" in size. He seemed equally elegant in all the methods- oil,
acrylic on both paper and canvas. His mix media paintings have distinct
identity. The artists range of colours is indeed wide but he seemed easy
with cool blue. Against his jolly character, his paintings are placid, mild
and soothing to the eyes. An unearthly peace and meditative moods are
vivid in his paintings which could prove a remedy to face the tumultuous
world of today. Yet, they do not allow you to escape from the reality but
places you in a balance.
topics he had chosen. The exhibition holds paintings from 67.5"X89.5" to
10.5"X10.5" in size. He seemed equally elegant in all the methods- oil,
acrylic on both paper and canvas. His mix media paintings have distinct
identity. The artists range of colours is indeed wide but he seemed easy
with cool blue. Against his jolly character, his paintings are placid, mild
and soothing to the eyes. An unearthly peace and meditative moods are
vivid in his paintings which could prove a remedy to face the tumultuous
world of today. Yet, they do not allow you to escape from the reality but
places you in a balance.
Interested in poetry, music, dance as well as
painting, Pradhan was born on August 15, 1944 in Ilam amidst the lovely
hills of far east Nepal. He studied drawing and painting from Sir JJ
School of Arts and graduated in 1970 before returning with dreams in his
heart.
painting, Pradhan was born on August 15, 1944 in Ilam amidst the lovely
hills of far east Nepal. He studied drawing and painting from Sir JJ
School of Arts and graduated in 1970 before returning with dreams in his
heart.
By 1971, he had resumed a couple of group and solo
exhibitions but was not happy with the shows. He wanted to hold an
exhibition with whom he could share some similarities. He discussed with
three other artists, products of the same college where he came from
-Shashi Shah, Krishna Manandhar and Batsa Gopal Baidhya to hold a group
exhibition with some thing new. One day, they gathered at Manandhars room
and came out with a name for the exhibition - SKIB71. Thus an exemplary
group was formed which gave group exhibitions every year for almost two
decades and set a history in the field of Nepali contemporary art.
exhibitions but was not happy with the shows. He wanted to hold an
exhibition with whom he could share some similarities. He discussed with
three other artists, products of the same college where he came from
-Shashi Shah, Krishna Manandhar and Batsa Gopal Baidhya to hold a group
exhibition with some thing new. One day, they gathered at Manandhars room
and came out with a name for the exhibition - SKIB71. Thus an exemplary
group was formed which gave group exhibitions every year for almost two
decades and set a history in the field of Nepali contemporary art.
He was the second eldest member of the group and no
doubt, very enthusiastic who encouraged us to hold exhibitions regularly,
said Batsa Gopal Baidhay, a member of SKIB and his room-mate at the
college in Bombay. "He was very dynamic, loving and dear to all in the
college. He used to love all his juniors. And specially, me. I had little
idea about the place and art of learning but he was my guide
during all our stay there."
doubt, very enthusiastic who encouraged us to hold exhibitions regularly,
said Batsa Gopal Baidhay, a member of SKIB and his room-mate at the
college in Bombay. "He was very dynamic, loving and dear to all in the
college. He used to love all his juniors. And specially, me. I had little
idea about the place and art of learning but he was my guide
during all our stay there."
He further explained that they set the group with a
view that everything could be possible if they worked in group. But they
did not paint at the same place. Their preparation was on individual
basis; not affecting one another in the technique and subject matter.
They, however, used to hold regular meeting and discussed most actively
in topics concerning art and artists of those days. The included other
fields of art are - literature, music, dance and so on. Nonetheless, if
the participants showed little interest, the tradition is not likely to
last long. Baidhya likes his early paintings with symbolic representation
of his innermost feelings. Later he shifted to abstract ones and added
more yellow on the canvas.
view that everything could be possible if they worked in group. But they
did not paint at the same place. Their preparation was on individual
basis; not affecting one another in the technique and subject matter.
They, however, used to hold regular meeting and discussed most actively
in topics concerning art and artists of those days. The included other
fields of art are - literature, music, dance and so on. Nonetheless, if
the participants showed little interest, the tradition is not likely to
last long. Baidhya likes his early paintings with symbolic representation
of his innermost feelings. Later he shifted to abstract ones and added
more yellow on the canvas.
His contribution in the continuation of SKIB can
never be underestimated. He was the one who used to compel us to work
hard. After he started teaching in Budhanilkantha School, he could not
give much time for us but still, we met regularly, Baidhya added.
never be underestimated. He was the one who used to compel us to work
hard. After he started teaching in Budhanilkantha School, he could not
give much time for us but still, we met regularly, Baidhya added.
In 1995, Pradhan intended to hold an one-man show
and for that he worked so hard in preparation that he got stroke after
having the date fixed. He remained in Teaching Hospital for long and
passed away in Delhi while undergoing due treatment, leaving an ambitious
exhibition undone.
and for that he worked so hard in preparation that he got stroke after
having the date fixed. He remained in Teaching Hospital for long and
passed away in Delhi while undergoing due treatment, leaving an ambitious
exhibition undone.
In the meantime, SKIB was thinking to resume another
group exhibition to mark the 25 years of group forming. After his death,
we went to the Art Council to get some paintings for the show but we
could not succeed and we only kept three of his art works that we had, he
disclosed.
group exhibition to mark the 25 years of group forming. After his death,
we went to the Art Council to get some paintings for the show but we
could not succeed and we only kept three of his art works that we had, he
disclosed.
He further said that activities of SKIB witnessed a
decline just before the popular movement of 1990 due to the changing
circumstances but his demise has left a vacuum not only to SKIB but to
the whole circle of contemporary artist of Nepal. It would have been
better if the paintings of the late artist were collected by any
government-funded institution than being sold openly but it is useless to
expect such a thing from the present government, he lamented.
decline just before the popular movement of 1990 due to the changing
circumstances but his demise has left a vacuum not only to SKIB but to
the whole circle of contemporary artist of Nepal. It would have been
better if the paintings of the late artist were collected by any
government-funded institution than being sold openly but it is useless to
expect such a thing from the present government, he lamented.
Pradhan held three solo exhibitions in his life time
and participated in dozens of group exhibitions, including the National
Art Exhibitions. Numerous national and international awards decorated his
dedication to art, such as Indra Rajya Laxmi Pragya Puraskar and many others.
and participated in dozens of group exhibitions, including the National
Art Exhibitions. Numerous national and international awards decorated his
dedication to art, such as Indra Rajya Laxmi Pragya Puraskar and many others.
No, Indra Pradhan is not dead. An artist can never
die. He has just refused to paint any more. Each painting, in which he
has put parts of his own life, is the evidence that he is living among us".
die. He has just refused to paint any more. Each painting, in which he
has put parts of his own life, is the evidence that he is living among us".
https://groups.google.com/forum/#!topic/soc.culture.nepal/E5dSdwuqQFk
[14/04/1998}
