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Nepalese Artist Biography – Everest Art Gallery

Click HERE for his art works 

Kiran Manandhar

  • Born on 1957 A.D. in Nepal 
 

Education

  • Master in Fine Arts (M. F. A.) Painting,from Faculty of Visual Art, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi, India.(1981) 
 

Fellowship 

  • Cite' International des Arts, 1998 Paris, France. 
 

Awards 

  • Merit Honor in B.F.A., Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi, India.(1974)
  • Award in Hamari KalaExhibition, Varanasi(1974).
  • Award in National Art Exhibition, Nepal(1974).
  • Certificate of Appreciation from B.H.U., Varanasi.(1975)
  • Certificate of Appreciation from B.H.U., Varanasi.(1978)
  • First Prize in Annual Art Exhibition, B.H.U., Varanasi.(1980)
  • Merit Honor in M.F.A., Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi, India.(1981)
  • Best Prize in National Art Exhibition Nepal (1983).
  • Best Award in the Fresque Mural in Maison de la Cultural Bezier, France.(1983)
  • First in Poster Competition organized by Ministry of Tourism, Nepal.(1984)
  • Medal from Manandhar Association, Nepal.(1984)
  • Second and Diploma Award in Ninth Grand International Art Competition, Deauville, France.(1985)
  • Best prize in National Art Exhibition Nepal.(1986)
  • Honorable Mention, Asian Art Exhibition, Dhaka.(1991)
  • Best prize 30th Salon de climart, Paris, France.(1991)
  • Rastriya Pratibha Puraskar, HMG, Nepal.(1996)
  • Medal in Silver Jubilee of His Majesty the King Birendra Bir Bikram Shah Dev, Nepal.(1997)
  • Prabal Gorkha Dakshin Bahu, by His Majesty the King of Nepal.(1999)
  • Best Awards, Association Des Arts Plastique Draveil, France.(2000)
  • Birendra Aishworya Sewa Padak, by his Majesty the King of Nepal.(2001) 
 

Workshops (Events)

  • Fresque Mural at the Royal Palace of H.E. The King of Varanasi, India.(1977)
  • Fresque Mural in Maison de la Cultural Bezier, France.(1983)
  • Painting demonstration in Lille, France.(1984) - Demonstration and Teaching in St. Denis Ecole Maternelle, Leslilas, Paris.(1984)
  • International Fair Lille, France.(1985)
  • SAARC Painters Camp, Shimla, India.(1989)
  • Fukuoka, Japan.(1994)
  • Lindau, Germany.(1994)
  • Imperia, Italy.(1994)
  • Lahti, Finland.(1995)
  • Karachi, Pakistan.
  • Workshop at Faculty of Visual Arts, B.H.U., Varanasi.(1997)
  • Workshop at Wurzburg, Germany.(1997)
  • Karachi, Pakistan.(1998) - Tibet, P. R. China.(2000)
  • Karachi, Pakistan.(2000) - Workshop organized by the Royal Nepal Academy , Nepal.(2000)
  • Participated in the workshop organized by Royal Nepal Academy.(2002)
  • Participated in the workshop in Charikot, Dolakha.(2003)
  • Workshop with Fine Art Students.(2006)
  • Workshop for Democratic Movement(2006)
  • Painting Demonstration in the "Grand Art Show-2006" and Book Launch Program
  • "Kiran: Saga of a Modern Nepali Artist" organized by Everest Art Gallery, Thamel,Kathmandu, Nepal(2006)
 

Solo Exhibitons

  • More than 150 Solo Exhibitions in Nepal and Abroad)(1972 to 2006)
  • Solo Exhibitions in different Art Galleries of Nepal ( 1972,1973,1975,1977,1980,1981,1982,1983,1984,1985,

1986,1987,1988,1989,1990,1991,1992,1993,1994,1995,1996,1997,1998,1999,2000,2001,2002,2003,2004,2005,2006)

  • "Art for Peace" Everest Art Gallery, Thamel, Kathmandu, Nepal
  • "Grand Art Show - 2006" and Book Launch Program "Kiran: Saga of a Modern Nepali Artist" organized by Everest Art Gallery, Thamel, Kathmandu, Nepal.(2006)
  • Solo Exhibitions in India.(1975,1986,1988,1990,1993,1994,1997,2001)
  • Solo Exhibitions in France(1983,1984,1985,1987,1988,1991, 1997,1998,1999,2000,2001,2003,2006)
  • Solo Exhibitions  in Germany  (1988,1992,1994,1995,1997,1998,1999,2001,2002,2004,2005,2006)
  • Solo Exhibitions in Pakistan/Tibet/Japan/Finland/Denmark(1996,1998,2000/ 2000/1994,1995/1995,1996,1997/2001)
 

Group Exhibitions

  • National Art Exhibition, Nepal(1971)
  • Painting Exhibition, Academy of Fine Arts, Kolkota, India.(1974)
  • Lalitkala Academy, Lucknow, India.(1974)
  • Painting Exhibition Varanasi, India.(1976)
  • Art Exhibition in USSR.(1979)
  • Trinalaya, New Delhi, India.(1980)
  • Asian Art Exhibition, Dhaka, Bangladesh.(1980)
  • South East Asian Exhibition, India.(1980) - Art Exhibition, Kolkota, India.(1980)
  • Exhibition of Prints, Oxford, England.(1980)
  • Sacresart Salon, Paris, France.(1984)
  • Salon d,independent, Paris.(1984)
  • International Mail Art Exhibition, New York, USA.(1984)
  • Asian Art Exhibition, Dhaka, Bangladesh.(1985)
  • Australia.(1985)
  • Ninth Grand International Art Competition, Deauville, France.(1985)
  • Fukuoka Art Exhibition, Japan.(1985)
  • Art Exhibition Biennale, France.(1985)
  • Mail Art Exhibition, Berlin.(1986)
  • Mail Art Exhibition, Duseldorf, Germany.(1986)
  • Autumn Whispers-86, Kathmandu.(1986)
  • Seoul Contemporary Art Exhibition, S. Korea.(1986)
  • 2nd Festival Scolaire de lencharge Cultural, France.(1988)
  • Artistes Cotemporain, Commissaires - Priseurs Associes, Paris.(1989)
  • SAARC Painters Camp-Exhibition in New Delhi and Shimla, India.(1989)
  • Bombay, 98th Annual Art Exhibition, India.(1990)
  • Quando Lo Stato E Donna, Senigallia, Italy.(1991)
  • Asian Art Exhibition, Dhaka, Bangladesh.(1991)
  • 30th Salon de Climart, Paris.(1991)
  • Bombay, 100th Annual Art Exhibition, India.(1992)
  • Biennale Art Essonne, 6eme Croisiere de l'Art Contemporain, La Porte, Evry, France.(1998)
  • Exhibition of Paintings in P.R. of China, Tibet.(2000)
  • Nepali Contemporary Art Exhibition in Korea.(2001)
  • Art Exhibition in many parts of India.(2003)
  • Art Exhibition in Draveil, France(2005)
  • Art Exhibition in Shanghai, China.(2005) 
 

Collections

  • Everest Art Gallery, Bansbari, Kathmandu, Nepal.
  • Private Collection in Nepal and Abroad(India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Tibet, France, Germany, Finland, Japan, Italy, USA, England, Australia, South Korea, Denmark, Canada, Portugal, Kenya, Mexico, Belgium, etc.
 

Artist Statement

My life as an artist started from the day I realized that I was born to be one. My interest developed gradually into something creative and I started dreaming of becoming an artist. My childhood aspirations took shape and I succeeded in transforming my sole interest into something that became the most inseparable part of my life, my work and my creations.

Those days when I decided to shape my dreams were not easy. I passed through many hurdles and difficulties to reach this stage. I struggled because I cherished all those dreams and wanted them to come true. I fought for this right from my school days. I went against the wish of my parents who wanted me to become an engineer. My love and passion for art assumed the form of a rebellion, which started from the time when I began to run away from my school and go to a place that was calm and serene. To me, this was the beginning of a grand journey undertaken in order to search for an appropriate environment for my creations. Moreover, the satisfaction I derived from them was something that made me feel happy. It was then did I realize that I had great intimacy with nature. Nature is one of the earliest friends in the world of art. I created art, and I feel glad to realize that I can still count on nature as my friend. Whenever I am alone I engage myself into a unique conversation with the friends, among whom nature occupies the place of importance.

The opportunity of taking formal training in fine arts from my respected teachers the late Chandraman Singh Maskey and Ramananda Joshi helped me visually transform and polish my dreams into reality. They taught me the basics, in fact the real meaning of art. My works are my real tribute to them. My work is the act of my worship and they made me feel its power.

My formal education in fine arts started in 1972 from Banaras Hindu University- BHU, India. There, I earned a degree in fine arts and came back home in 1981. My professors K.S. Kulkarni, R.C. Shukla and Dilip Das Gupta helped me transform my raw impulse into the subtle finesse of the visual arts. My teachers are my real inspirers and I thank them for making me whatever I am today. Besides them, I adore the artists William de Kooning, Emile Nolde, Pablo Picasso, Braque, Matisse, Uttam Nepali and Laxman Shrestha whose paintings have motivated me in a number of ways.

I express myself through art, which captivates me and shapes the texture of my joy, my sorrow and my attitude towards social issues. Furthermore, it reflects my relationship with nature. It reveals truth, beauty, peace and tranquility the impressions of which always remain in my creations.

I transform my imaginations and feelings into abstract forms. Many people ask me the meanings of them. It would be too presumptuous to locate a particular meaning of the abstract art forms. I think abstract forms emanate from the act of getting deep into the form and discovering what may not be easily possible for everyone to do. For instance, when I see a tree and concentrate on it, I begin to imagine myself penetrating deep into its roots. In fact, everybody can see a tree, its cognitive reality with its branches, leaves, fl owers and fruits and its overall outer beauty. However, I feel I am transcending the cognitive side of the tree and trying to figure out its inner beauty. That process is abstract for me.

My journey into the world of art is endless. Until now, I feel, I have not accomplished anything. The moment I take my last breath will be the precious culmination of my journey, because at this moment will I finally realize that I am leaving this world as a complete artist. However, when I am active and living this wonderful life, I do continue to paint and enjoy doing it.

Today, I feel that Nepali art has made great progress. It has widened the possibilities and scopes for those people who want to involve themselves in it. The success of the pro-democracy movement or ?Jan Andolan II?, has added new hopes and expectations to this mode of progress. The art activities being part of the most important development processes of our country cannot be separated from the historic reality. As art appears to be relatively more and more appreciated and understood by the masses the need of a separate institution of fine arts is felt very strongly here.

In addition, as a member of this world of Nepali arts I share these feelings very strongly and I have added my voice to the call for the establishment of a separate institution of fine arts. Now I am hopeful that the dream of all the artists and art lovers will soon come true. Lalitkala Fine Art Academy will be established, which I feel will bring real democracy Loktantra for the artists.

This time round or during the solo exhibition of my paintings, I have come up with a new idea. I have launched my first book containing the collections of the pictures of my creations executed over many years along with some write-ups regarding my works by the most important people who matter a lot to me. One of them is Prof. Dr. Abhi Subedi. Abhi dai has helped me understand the real meaning of my creations. For I believe he knows and understands my work more than me.

I want to thank Everest Art Gallery for organizing my exhibition and publishing this book. I am highly indebted to them for their support and co-operation. This is the first time that any gallery has shown interest in helping an artist in his mission. I am glad that I met the Everest Art Gallery team, Laxmi Prakash Sainju and my students Suraj Sainju and Sujan Sainju who showed keen interest in organizing this exhibition. Actually, it was their idea to organize my second retrospective exhibition of paintings and publish this book. The labour and energy they have put for publishing this book deserves admiration. They have worked harder than me for this exhibition. I feel highly honoured and express my heart-felt thanks to them once again.

I also thank Poly Image Press for printing. I would like to take this opportunity to thank my family, specially my wife Sarita for being there with me during all the ups and downs of my life. Equally, I am very thankful to my sister Tara for helping me bolster my career as an artist and my friends and well-wishers in Nepal and abroad who have supported me in a number of ways through their guidance and motivations.

I take pride in having you all there--visible or invisible--supporting and inspiring me.

Thank you all once again.

Kiran Manandhar

Artist/Painter

Click HERE for his art works