Devina Arts

PAHUNA CHARA - Migrating bird that visits Chitwan, Nepal. "Karyang Kurung Aayo" !!

Thank you Sunil karki putu, Rajan Pant, Uddav Rimal, Niraj Chitrakar, Prabin Shrestha and Suresh Basnet for your great support to come all the way to Chitwan and creating these Wings for Lake Twenty Thousand Farm Retreat at no cost .

Thank you Super star Rajesh Hamal dai for its first photograph.

Art Exhibition kicks off - CEO

https://ceotab.com/art-exhibition-kicks-off/ #

ceotab.com Art Exhibition has kicked off at Nepal Art Council of Babarmahal in the capital.The exhibition, which started on November 22, will conclude on December 1.

Guru Rimpoche in a new light

nepalitimes.com n exhibition of contemporary art on Padmasambhava does not just revive the legend of the Buddhist guru, but also displays the wide variety of art practised in Nepal today. These artworks explore spiritual questions like the value of life, afterlife and a world beyond human experiences. Ten artists e...

ग्यालरीमा गुरु रिन्पोछे

ekantipur.com बौद्ध सम्प्रदायमा पद्मसम्भवलाई गुरु रिन्पोछेको रूपमा पुकारिन्छ । आठौं शताब्दीमा भारतबाट नेपाल हुँदै तिब्बतमा...

बुद्ध दर्शनका आकृति

annapurnapost.com काठमाडौ‌ं : बौद्ध दर्शनमा ध्यान र मन्त्रले जीवनमा आइपर्ने दुःखबाट बचाउँछ भन्ने मान्यता छ। कलाकार सुष्मा शाक्यले...

जीवन, अध्यात्म र कला - खोजपत्र

khojpatra.com यहाँ धर्मको टेबलमा हाम्रा अध्यात्मका आस्थाहरु यथावत् ठाउँमा रहिनै रहन्छन् चाहे धर्मको नष्ट भएर नै किन नगएको होस....

Mark your calendar friends! The exhibition is this Friday on the 22nd November! Everybody is invited!

an exhibition of various art forms describing the legacy of sage Padmasambhawa

'The moment 'I' disappeared' experimental work by Bijaya Maharjan
When the mind is unconditional, only then one sees the true self. This self is no different than anything that surrounds the individual. Everything, then becomes the unit as well as the whole. Padmasambhawa thus is time and eternity at the same instant.
Appearance of Light- a group show at Nepal Art Council on the 22nd of Nov. 2019

Light is an eye
It makes you see
(Appearance of Light)

Appearance of Light

Recognizable patterns in human thoughts did not happen right away. These patterns in thoughts are like rocks that take time to come into being. Some rocks are formed due to thousands of years of processing within the earth and once they surface, another kind of transformation takes place. It is a long course for these rocks to come into existence. Likewise, thoughts also take generations to have a recognizable and relative pattern.
8th century A.D. Padmasambhava surpassed the limited concept of liberation of any kind; to truly be free. The forerunner of Vajrayana, a ta***ic Buddhism to attain Nirwan, the seeker who came from India, meditated in various parts of Nepal before journeying Tibet. His sojourn here certainly had its impact in the socio-cultural aspects of Nepal. Its impacts on ancient culture and traditional arts are indisputable. And these cultural phenomena without a doubt have structured our thinking process in ancient times. Its effects are still evident till date.
One aspect this project intends to explore is the impact of the sage in present time and age yet it also tries to connect with its basic origin. In trying to do so, the artists explored few places while initiating their researches. All these findings and interpretations of artists will reflect in their artworks in an exhibition Appearance of Light which is due to happen in November 2019

Is there life beyond our experience? Humans have discovered, invented, mastered and navigated some little portions of time and space in history that few philosophers claim that humans are the measurement of everything. However, what is the veil that separates assertion from wisdom; where does rigidity end and fluidity begin? And in the world of logic and calculations today, are these internal esoteric qualities really important to lead and understand life?
Appearance of Light is a project organized by Devina Art Promotion which tells a story of one such human who became fluid like imagination, exemplifying shapelessness (metaphorically), and reached a status that devotee began celebrating him as deity. This is an artistic effort that involves ten artists and attempts to bring to the surface the collective visibility of the great Padmasambhawa and his solitude that is largely hidden...

Saroj Bajracharya is a painter, a writer and a curator who has been active in art from almost three decades. Various solo shows to his credit, he has participated in numerous group shows as well as coordinated and curated various art events. Three books related to art to his credit, the most recent one is titled Art Evolves: Nepali Modern Art.
He explains that his method of creating art is by initially observing his subject matters from a distance, so that he can clearly visualize what he is looking at. He thinks that all creatures are sensationalized by the external components, as a result creatures respond to them from within with their expectations and desires, creating chain of favorable and unfavorable situations. This chain of disorderly incidents and accidents is what we experience as life. And in order to have a sense of order, humans step away from objects or situations; artists are individuals who record some of these selected situations with a set of creative skills to make sense of it all. From this sense, he believes that art is about coming closer to necessary components from which one has consciously or unconsciously departed. He further believes that there lies a will to create in all of us in order to sense the unbound creation within. He expresses that every individual is an artist in his/her own right.
Saroj believes that in a society like ours where the ancient culture is very prominent, the presence of the past in the now is ever more intense. Since art connects us to charted and uncharted territories, Saroj by observing the inspiring legacy of Padmasambhawa intends to explore the intensity of the ancient in Nepalese contemporary society through art.
Published here is one of his early works.

Suresh Yonjan graduated from Kathmandu University with a studio major. He has participated in various group art exhibitions and workshops in Nepal and abroad. He was associated as a Museum officer at Taragaon Musuem; presently he is a freelance artist, designer, video editor and a photographer.
Suresh thinks that true spirituality is very rare these days. According to him this has happened because most of us merely rely on superficial observations while understanding or experiencing any kind of situation. Due to this distortion we are unable to recognize our true potentials, consequently failing to recognize ourselves. Very few nurture faith and hope. Most people are just after benefits and commercial value of things. And Suresh believes even religion has been infected from such distortions. The artist further clarifies that his works in this project therefore do not only represent life and legacy of Padmasambhawa, but also respect and acknowledge all the true icons who have contributed in healing and comforting the entire humanity.
An avid traveler, the artist likes to explore and experience new territories and lifestyles. He believes that travelling brings out a creative persona in an individual, and art does not only document human achievements, it also nourishes and evolves it into a better form. He feels that Padmasambhawa traveled great distance with open mind healing all beings. The artist believes that enlightenment is a journey and not a destination. In order to find more about Suresh’s opinion on Padmasambhawa, do visit Appearance of Light scheduled to happen on the 29th of July 2019 at Art Council Kathmandu.

Sahil Bhopal hails from Himachal Pradesh, India and specializes in traditional and digital art. Trained in the Karma Gadri style in the Shambhala Art School inside the Drukpa Kagyu monastery, Dechen Chokhor in Himanchal Pradesh, he has been painting Thangka for ten years under the tutelage of master Thangka painter Mr. Moedup Rongae. Presently, he resides in Boudha, Kathmandu where he is busy researching as well as creating Pauva and Thangka paintings.
He is into traditional art not just because of the fact that it is globally well recognized, but because he wants to go back psychologically, study, and bring it in the present to show where it is believed to have started and where it is today. The artist further believes that this is an essential task because study of the past keeping in mind its relevancy in the present will help us understand where we might go in the future. The artist approaches his art not merely by practicing it, but also by having meaningful interactions with his colleagues. This helps him infuse a sense of his own understanding in all the colors and forms he depicts in his artworks.
Sahil’s inspiration in this project comes from the fact that Padmasambhawa laid the foundation for the Buddhism that we know now. His teachings are so fundamental and essential in Buddhism that even after a millennium later we still practice it. He believes that the sage’s influence is not limited to one culture, country, or region; it is spreading all across the world. Do join us in the exhibition Appearance of Light at Art Council Kathmandu on the 29th of July 2019 to find out what Sahil’s works looks like… But for now, please enjoy one of his traditional arts…

Bijay Koirala born in Hetauda is a self taught artist. However, he pursued art course at Sirjana Art Gallery. Active in the field for almost two decades, he has participated in numerous group shows and various solo exhibitions in Nepal and Belgium. He is a very proficient realistic painter; however, when his subject matters demand, he also expresses his ideas via figurative paintings that depict images in distorted forms. Therefore, his work appears conceptual and poetic and flows fluidly through the eyes of the onlookers into their mind affecting them subtly like fragrance of a flower or a distant temple bell chiming.
From a visual level, Bijay seems to be depicting objects and situations that surround him; however, if one stops in front of his art for a while, will s/he realize that there are much more than that just meets the eyes. In the age of scientific revolution, social transformation and political assimilation, the artist portrays a metaphysical dilemma between infinity and ephemerality. And he does that by depicting regular things that we see in everyday life, particularly cultural objects that he has grown up seeing. The artist expresses that his art for him is the distance between his eyes and the object that he is observing. “This in-between empty space is occupied by assorted imaginations” he confirms. In this manner, his paintings are more conceptual than merely a depiction of what the artist is beholding.
Bijay opines that in today’s restless age the teaching of Padmasambhawa plays a significant role in allowing us to see the deeper realities and help figure out the bigger picture of life and beyond. Please do visit the outcome of this project Appearance of Light in an exhibition at Art Council on the 29th of July this year.

Sushma Shakya is a contemporary artist, born and brought up in a Buddhist Newar family. Her art forms are often drawn from Buddhist narratives and her native locality of Patan. She has been working on various genres such as painting, printmaking and sculpture for one and a half decade, and her explorations touch upon as much on contemporary themes and issues as on traditional forms. She is a BFA graduate from Kathmandu University, achieved her MFA degree in printmaking from T.U. and has several group shows and workshops to her credit.
The artist believes that besides the idea of time, art also systemizes otherwise unbound situations into past, present and even the future. Meaning, it is because of various forms of art that we are able to realize that certain components have already wearied or are still on trend and alive. And it is because of the ancient wisdom towards the concept of evolution, we are still able to view and understand the significance of modern day life and humans’ creative behavioral patterns. Therefore, Sushma believes that traditional art and approaches are still alive, no matter how much modern we have become. In this milieu, she believes that the contribution of Padmasambhawa is unparallel.
She joyfully expresses that this project has helped artists excavate some significant occurrences from the past and compare them with the modern day situations. This comparative survey, she thinks is much needed to track our own growth and extend it in the collective external reality. Do not forget to visit Appearance of Light at Nepal Art Council to see the creative growth of the artist through the legacy of Padmasambhawa… here is one of Sushma’s recent artworks.

Bijaya born in Kathmandu is an art graduate from Kathmandu University. He was involved in K.U. from a capacity of an art facilitator; however, presently he is the head of department of graphic communications at Sirjana College of Fine Arts. To his credit are two solo exhibitions and a photograph exhibition along with various group shows. He has also coordinated various art events. Adding to his creative expertise, he is an expert graphic designer, proficient photographer and a painter who is found absorbed in his work at Courtyard Studio in Mangalbajar, Lalitpur.
“When your escape becomes your destination, you have to understand that in order to fit in somewhere, you have to share some commonalities with your surroundings. I understood this through art.” He further expresses that once he began painting silhouette of houses and the bright skies, he just wanted to be unconditional like the sky, the houses merely a frame to it. Sky was his escape. This is when he understood that through discipline one can truly be liberated. According to him here discipline is the frames of houses and sky- the freedom. He articulates that once something clicks in you, you do what you like using certain creative set of skill and that becomes art. Therefore, his artistic proficiency is fluid and flows through various genres of art, such as painting, designing, installation, mural and photography. Most of his artworks are comprised of geometrical shapes often belonging to traditional art and are symbolically expressing complex relation of modern humans with innate nature. He feels that Padmasambhawa was a sage who was able to eradicate the barrier between complex human conditioning and nature. Do visit Appearance of Light to have comprehensive idea on Bijaya’s artworks that depict the sage …

Sundar Lama is a visual/performance artist who gained a degree in M.F.A. from T.U. He has exhibited many solo and collective exhibitions nationally and internationally.
The artist basically deals with subjects that stirs him and does not merely create for some visual effect or in trying to amuse onlookers. He therefore, discusses and contemplates before working on his art materials. Versatile is a suitable word to define the artist as he expresses his chosen subjects through various genres such as painting, installation, performance art and poetry. Well over one and a half decade as an artist, his primary subject focuses on how humans are gradually shaping up unbound situations, sometimes creating a personal gateway to nature, creating their own personal universe of bliss, pain, happiness and suffering. He opines that when one becomes able in connecting that personal universe to the world with certain artistic skills, then one becomes an artist.
The artist has travelled extensively across the world in countries such as Germany, India, Bangladesh, Japan, S Korea and many others showing his performance art.
Based in Kathmandu he is a recipient of various prestigious awards for his contribution in art.
Here is a snap from one of his intriguing performance arts that happened a while ago. In order to find out more on his interdisciplinary artworks on Padmasambhawa, do mark your calendar for 29th of July 2019 where he will be coming up with paintings and performance in a collective art project and exhibition Appearance of Light…

Devina Art Promotion (DAP) is organizing an art project titled Appearance of Light. This project aims to recognize the basic characteristics of Nepali art; both traditional and modern and find connection between the two.

Art that continues in any society manifests the identity of that particular society as art evolves from the soil of culture, traditional values, belief systems and thought processes of that particular society. Therefore, art without a doubt is an identity and a reflection of society. Evolution of art in Nepal has various layers to it; from ancient art to pre-modern and modern, all these varieties of arts require different approaches to be created and also to be comprehended.

In order to meet the above mentioned aim, ten artists practicing art of various genres conducted research on Padmasamvawa. The religious values, the social aspects and its collective effects on the then surroundings and its continuity till now is the key area of research. The reason behind researching on Padmasambhawa is becsuse he is a sage who came to Nepal from India around 8th century and introduced Ta***ic Buddhism through Vajrayana in Nepal and Tibet. Because of this contribution Nepal went through significant socio-cultural and religious transformation. And art back then got highly effected by this.

Scholars from art and archeology such as Madan Chitrakar (art writer/ researcher/ painter), Prakash Darnal (ex chief archeologist) and Mukesh Malla (art critic/ painter) provided lectures on ancient arts and their connection with modernity.

Artworks in this exhibition will range from painting to sculpture, printmaking, photogrpahy, installation and performance art.

Through this project DAP attempts to understand the innate creative state of mind of Nepal in order to come closer the link between the ancient and the modern through the arts.
The exhibition is due to happen in Nepal Art Council, Baber Mahal on the 29th of July 2019 A.D.

Bijay Koirala gears up for Exhibition in Brussels, Belgium. (With thanks to Isabelle Malotaux).

9th -21 July.
brussels Belgium.
Congratulations BIJAY KOIRALA !!

Keeping the eye on the prize !!
New mega exhibition planning has started....we are finetuning on the theme...any artist interested to be considered..please give us a hint and we will follow up accordingly....

Bijay Koirala

Official closeout. Thanks to everyone.
Please stay tuned for our next projects.

Bijay, Niraj, UR & Putu

Nawang Chhiri Sherpa

Isabelle Malotaux

saroj Bajracharya

Sunil Babu Karki "PUTU"

Prabin Shrestha

U R Rimal