Manish Lal Shrestha
Manish Lal Shrestha’s paintings recycle are reintegrate the traditional images and icons exploiting the modern forms. The recurrent images are bells, planets and pyramids. He does not present these images as they were represented in early works but modifies, reformulates and appropriates them for different purpose. The same contents are treated with different forms.
Manish Lal Shrestha’s paintings recycle are reintegrate the traditional images and icons exploiting the modern forms. The recurrent images are bells, planets and pyramids. He does not present these images as they were represented in early works but modifies, reformulates and appropriates them for different purpose. The same contents are treated with different forms. He expresses new concept and vision using the primitive images. He explores and delineates the concepts of time, transition and development using the image of bell. In religious rituals the bell is used while worshipping the divinities. The twinkling of the bell produces the sonorous music in the dusk and dawn. The presence of a number of bells recreates the mythical ambience as in the Hindu temples. The significance of bell goes further ahead. Bell marks the time, the beginning and the end, the movement from one point to the other. What happens in the middle? The various events take place, the life progresses with new experiences. The experiences may remain the same stagnant to some.
But for Manish, the change, progress and transformation are essential. Thus, his gestures suggest freedom, optimism, strength and the joy. The various blocks of colourful squires and rectangles represent the various stages of time, the movement from initiation to achievement. The transition is implied by the dividing lines of the geometric shapes, and sometimes by the little space between the shapes. The transition is not always gradual and linear. To leap forward from one stage to another extra effort is required. Manish assimilates himself with various ancient civilizations. The image of pyramid is the metonymic representation of Egyptian civilization. The pyramid also symbolizes the movement and transition, from mundane world to the spirituality. The inclusion of astrological images like nine planets suggests the artist’s aspiration of wider horizon of knowledge. The background of some paintings is full of strange abstract images. The colour combination and the rhythm creates mystical atmosphere sometimes giving impression of the sphere of universe. The works are rooted to the artist’s own culture, yet they extend to the contemporary time with renewed flavor. The significances of the images are not always necessary to enjoy Manish’s works. The colours, forms and images directly enter the viewer’s heart for their own sake.
Son of Mr. Hari Lal Shrestha and Mrs. Urmila Shrestha
Date of Birth: 12th November, 1977
Educational Background
Bachelor Degree in Fine Art, Sir J.J School of Art, Bombay University, Mumbai 2001
School Leaving Certificate level, Little Angles School, Nepal 1995
Awards
2nd Prize, 35th National Exhibition, NAFA, 2005
3rd Prize, 34th National Exhibition, NAFA, 2004
2nd Prize, Landscape competition, Sir J.J. School of Art, Mumbai, India, 2000
Workshop, Artist in Residence
VASL Artist Residency, Karachi, Pakistan 2008
Teaching 3rd year Students, Indus Valley School of Art and Architecture, Karachi, Pakistan, 2008
Organized Naya Awazharu, Two Months Local Residency Program for young upcoming Artist 2007
Kalavart International Art festival and Artists camp, Ujjain, India 2006
Coordinated Sutra International Artists Workshop, Patan Durbar Square, Nepal 2006
Lalitkala Loktantrik Aviyan, Gurukul, Nepal 2006
Theertha International Artists Collective, Kandy, Srilanka 2006
Khulla Dhoka Artists Workshop, Siddhartha art Gallery, Babarmahal Revisited, Nepal 2006
Sutra Local Artist Workshop Pokhara, Intl’ Mountain Museum, Nepal 2006
“Uttishtha”, the new beginning- Sutra, Osho Tapoban, Nepal 2005
“Nuga Mikha International Artist Workshop- Sutra, Bhaktapur, Nepal 2004
Coaxing the Nature- Sutra, Osho Tapoban, Nepal 2003
Bichalit Bartaman, Basantapur, Nepal 2002
Solo
Interactive Site Specific Art Exhibition, Indus Valley School of Art and Architecture premise, Karachi, Pakistan 2008
Sound of Nostalgia, Interactive solo art show, Newa Chhen, Lalitpur, Nepal 2007
Through the Window, Conceptual Video Art, Sri Lanka 2006
“Sound of Wisdom”, Chautara Art Gallery, Almere, Holland 2006
“Vibes I” Institution les Esserts, Cugy, Switzerland 2005
“Vibes” Gallerie Giovanetti, Lausanne, Switzerland 2005
“Collective reverberation” Gallery 9, Kathmandu 2005
“Sound of existence” Café Mitra, Kathmandu 2004
“Sound of existence” Mithila Art Gallery, Kathmandu 2004
“Sound of Hope” Gallery 9, Kathmandu 2004
“Sound of Intimacy II” Hyatt Regency, Kathmandu 2004
“Sound of Intimacy” Siddhartha Art Gallery, Kathmandu 2003
Private Collection Shows in France, 2003-2006
“Sound of Silence” Sirjana Contemporary Art Gallery, Kathmandu 2002
Group Exhibition:
Four Men Grand Art Exhibition “The Mystical Odysseys”, Jehangir Art Gallery,Mumbai 18 June to 24 June, 2009
“Operation Heartbeat, Embassy of Japan, Maharajgunj, Kathmandu 2008
Amalgamation II, Siddhartha Art Gallery, Babar Mahal Revisited, Kathmandu 2008
“Friends of Bagmati”, Radisson Hotel, Kathmandu 2007
“Amalgamation”, Siddhartha Art Gallery, Babar Mahal Revisited, Kathmandu 2007
Bells -Silence and sounds, Three Men Show, Gallery 32@ Dent-inn, Kathmandu 2007
Two men Show, Chautara Gallery, Almere, Holland 2006
Group Show, Sonja art Gallery, Thamel, Kathmandu 2006
36 th National Exhibition of Art and craft, NAFA, Kathmandu 2006
Group Exhibition Gallerie Giovanetti, Lausanne, Switzerland 2004
“Uneven Fragments”, Gallery 9, Kathmandu 2004
Two men Show “Situation” Times bank Hall, Mumbai 2000
Sound of Wonder: An article for fifth anniversary of Sirjana College of Fine Arts, Kathmandu Nepal 2006
Founder/Director: Gallery Mcube
Associated with: Kathmandu University Department of Art and Design, Nepal Founder Member, Sutra Art Centre Member, Artists Society of Nepal
Collection: Australia, Austria, Denmark, Canada, Sweden, Norway, Germany, Holland, France, USA, UK, Switzerland, Saudi Arabia, India and many private collections in Nepal.
Travel: India, Switzerland, England, Scotland, Sri Lanka, USA, China, South Korea, Pakistan
