Nepal, a land known as a home to the most of the highest peaks on earth including Mt. Everest and a great repository of medieval art and architecture, is also the cradle of two major religions of the world Hinduism and Buddhism. These two religions in a related short span of time has caused a unique development of cultural legacy of Nepal resulting a great array of art and artifacts.
Besides the history of Nepal is embedded with various colorful episodes at different intervals of time-recorded since 5th century AD. The recent excavations in the western mountains (Mustang) have also revealed the evidence of prehistoric human settlements in those areas. The museums of Nepal have some of those rare specimens, artifacts, weapons dating from all those periods. To a visitor who has a little bias to the history and the historic antiquities, a visit to the museums of Nepal is a must and in fact. are the best refuge after the tiresome shopping spree in the Kathmandu bazars or an arduous trek in the mountains. Similarly, Nepal, in recent times, has also become a unique melting pot of tradition-based painting and the western influences in the contemporary arts.
The city of Kathmandu is a window where one can experience how traditionalism could be easily diffused with the modern trends. In fact, the vibrant art scene of Nepal (today) is a plethora of local and global influences. The art of painting especially, best reflects the sheer profusion of scenic natural landscapes and contemporary figurative and non-figurative compositions. A stroll through the galleries of Nepal would reveal a host of works ranging from internationally established artist to exciting new comers. Overall, the art of Nepal today represents two distinct segments-firstly the tradition based idealistic painting known as 'Paubhas' (also known as 'Thangka' in Tibetan dialect) and the contemporary western style works. The contemporary painting is specially noted for either nature based compositions or compositions based on Tantric elements/social themes. Nepalese painters have also earned international reputation for abstract works based on these themes.
It is this thriving milieu that makes a visit to the art galleries of Kathmandu a pleasurable and rewarding prospect. A list of museums and galleries are presented below which should serve as a preliminary guide to the visitors.
COURTESY:NEPAL ART COUNCIL.
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KNOW PABLO PICASSO
In 1937, Picasso rented a flat and studio in the heart of Paris, on the left bank of the Seine, in the former hôtel de Savoie-Carignon, dating from the 17 th century, on rue des Grands-Augustins. Here he was to create a series of monumental and almost monochrome paintings, including Guernica, in 1937; The Charnel House, in 1945; and The Kitchen, in November 1948. In the first two paintings, narratives of human suffering are easily recognized, for these are tragic works, inspired by recent events that the artist has raised to universal significance. The Kitchen, on the other hand, deploys a plastic language which is less figurative and more difficult to decipher. Unlike its two predecessors, the painting has also rarely attracted the attention of critics and art historians. My intention here is to examine the circumstances in which Picasso created The Kitchen and to explore the composition and possible significance of this great labyrinth of abstract signs.1
The Kitchen (ill. n° 2) is painted on a monumental scale (175 x 250 cm ), and is structured by a complex and asymmetrical black grid. Taut curves, straight and angular lines, concentric circles and a vertical arrow constitute a graphic vocabulary whose primary dynamism recalls urban graffiti.
Nepali art has been deeply influenced by religion since very early times. Early art of Nepal can be seen as stone sculpture and temple architecture. Other art include Newari Paubha and Tibetan Thanka paintings, wood and metal crafts, ceramics and clay pots, textiles, paper, Tibetan carpet, music and literature. Contemporary Nepali art represents two distinct segments, traditional idealistic paintings and the contemporary western style works. The contemporary painting is specially noted for either nature based compositions or compositions based on Tantric elements or social themes. Nepali painters have also earned international reputation for abstract works based on these themes.
Kathmandu Valley houses a number of museums and art galleries displaying art work of the past and present. Some are: The National Museum at Chhauni, Museums at Kathmandu Durbar Square, Museum of Natural History at Swayambhu, National Library at Puchowk, Kaiser Library at Thamel, National Birendra Art Gallery at Naxal, Asa Archives at Tangal, National Art Gallery at Bhaktapur Durbar Square, National Woodworking Museum at Bhaktapur Durbar Square, Bronze and Brass Museum at Bhaktapur, Nepal National Ehnographic Museum at Bhrikuti Mandap. Museums outside the Kathmandu Valley are such: Dhakuta Museum, Hattisar Museum in Bhimphedi, Mustang Eco Museum in Jomsom, Tharu Cultural Museum in Thakurdwara and International Mountain Museum in Pokhara.
The beginning of the sixteenth century is the most famous period of Italian art. It was the time of Michelangelo, Raphael, Dürer, Holbein, Giorgione, Titan, Correggio and many other famous masters. Leonardo da Vinci was much more than an artist.
He was an astronomer, sculptor, geologist,mathematician, botanist, animal behaviourist, inventor, engineer, architect and even a musician. He was all of these things and more. As the world faces a new millennium Leonardo da Vinci remains one of the most fascinating people history has ever known. He once said that "things of the mind left untested by the senses are useless." Leonardo left little untested, yet few people know the amazing story behind the man often described as the embodiment of the Renaissance. This Web site endeavours to introduce you to the artist, the scientific visionary, the amazing inventor and Leonardo, the man. One can never explain the existence of genius, one can but enjoy.
Did You Know? Leonardo Da Vinci invented scissors; also, it took him ten years to paint Mona Lisa's lips.
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one of the great artist from the blakans,Elena Panayotava , is sensitive towards the original essence of art . with her almost two decades of participation in the contemorary art life elena panayotava has proved to be an auther with a specific individual hand. Her artistic work that had a successful go at ceramics , installation and visual arts .She is also one of the member from european women artists group in my two years of study i learned that she has great passion towards art and work . her creative skill , ideas and concept are very different and realastic . though i have never seen this living legend i found her artistic in one side and in another side i found her as friendly , helpful . so i am very much inspired by this living legend i wish i could learn more art ( installation , visual art ) from her , u can say she is my inspiration .
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