Synchronization of Thailand Nepal Art Exchange
Excitement and enthusiasm can be sensed when ten artists from Nepal gathered together at Tribhuvan International Airport. They were heading towards Bangkok to participate in Thailand Nepal Art Workshop and Exhibition 2018. To perform a new visual language to create a paintings in the workshop was deeply formed in each of the artists. Jeevan Rajopadhyay, Uma Shankar Shah, Pramila Bajracharya, Sarita Dongol, Sangee Shrestha, Prithvi Shrestha, Samundra Man Singh Shrestha, Mukesh Shrestha, Meena Kayastha and Sagar Manandhar was a part of the exchange program.
Cultural and culmination of artistic venture is very much in need to develop the observation and build up the thinking process of a creative thoughts. Exchange of ideas and pictorial visual experiences are how every artistic personalities are searching for the new platform to enhance the work of art in this globalization.
Wattanachot Tungatega, Coordinator of the workshop received the artist at Bangkok and waited for the next flight to Krabi, the actual venue for the workshop. Andaman Art Museum, Andaman Cultural Center at Krabi organized this exchange program for about thirteen artist of Thailand and ten artists from Nepal and E-Arts Nepal was the local partner for this event. The city of beads and the sounds of waves were even more interesting to look at. The city seemed silent but each and every steps in the city appeared lively with the creative perfection. Sculptures of different national artists from Thailand are placed on the streets. Importance for the imaginative creative forms are highlighted which is a part of a respect to the art works as well as an opportunity to define the city with the balance of economy and art. Kind hospitality given by the Mayor of Krabi to develop the art and cultural sector was amazing. He was very keen to make the city more lively not only with the natural resources but also with the artistic intervention.
Each and every corner of the Andaman Cultural Center was furnished very well and standardized to put the cultural essence of Krabi. Separate museum for beads and the collection of historical journey was well preserved. Another museum is of the artworks, where we could gather a taste of national and international artist from Thailand. They have also collected the artworks from Nepal, Indonesia, Japan, India and some of the other countries. Establishment of museums and gallery is not a big covenant but to maintain its ambience and charge it with the aesthetical judgment is what it really takes to control the heart of the viewers. That what made this particular museum so special. Care given to each and every paintings and placement of works with compositional value was amazing. They are increasing the collections and more activities are in schedule to make it livelier.
Short presentation of the styles and techniques of the artists from Nepal was delivered with various information. Slides contained the short introduction of the artists and the analysis of paintings. Videos form the Artists from Thailand were shared with enthusiastic manner. This was an interesting part for every creative personality to share the ideas and knowledge apart from the paintings done at the workshop. 
On 4th August, 2018 artist started to pour their experiences and emotional connections to the canvas. Workshop was conducted in the separate hall where all the artist worked in the same platform. The big hall was converted into the work of art and did not seem like the artists from Nepal and Thailand with different nationality were working. They were united and concentrated in their individual work ethics. 
Artists with the heart of creative affection were giving their best to acknowledge their skills and techniques. Some started with the key sketches and some with the splashes of colors on the canvas. These actions and planning of an individual artist was worth to watch. For two days the venue illuminated the reflections of creative consistency. Exchange of colors, reloading the colors on the palettes, planting the colors on the canvas and the strokes were wonderful. All the art lovers want to be there to view to detail process of the artists from the beginning till the end of the paintings.
Jeevan Rajopadhyay started to recollect the ideas form the ambience of Krabi. Splashes of colors and beautifully balanced strokes reveals the path of his emotional experience. Dialogue between the artist and the painting was interesting to be observed. Fluency of color and its vibrancy was interconnected with the final work of art. 
Uma Shakar Shah’s work delve deep into the controlled color strokes with painting knife and create and ambience of an imaginative cityscape. The painting dominated by warm colors and city life can be visually experienced. He connected himself to his work to explore more imaginative forms. 
Pramila Bajracharya’s figural emotions make her own expressive language in painting. Textural value is well balanced with the controlled black lines which is also her personality of the creative process. Confident approach in the work while searching for her own individual perception revealed the beauty of the creative thoughts. 
Taking a closer look at the work of Sarita Dongol, she explored the forms extracted from the nature. The rhythmic values and the extensive use of attractive colors reveal the beauty in nature. The forms seem to make a new way and dialogue between the objects and the subjective connection is interesting to visualize. 
On the other hand the unique facial structure can be depicted on the work of Sangee Shrestha where the emotional attachment of human feelings can be glorify. Subdued color palette and meticulous details while working on texture made the work more powerful. The hidden message can be identified while approaching the work. Searching for the identity and new experience can be detected form her imagination. 
Talking about the metaphor and symbolic gesture Prithvi Shrestha created his own vision. Self-portraiture with meaningful symbolic relationship were incorporated in the work produced in the workshop. The background was visually and emotionally balanced with the intricate small details.
Samundra Man Singh Shrestha painted Bhairva- traditional mask dance of Nepal. He captured the speed and rhythmic gesture of the dance with well-defined details. Synchronization of the cultural forms and imaginative perception is captured in the work. Imagining the traditional motifs of god and goddess Mukesh Shrestha painted Green Tara with his own individual aspects. The amalgamation of skill and contemporary practice can be sensed in the work. The lyrical forms and motifs interconnected with the detailed textural formation. 
The ambience of peace and rich traditional culture of Nepal is justified by the work. Meena Kayastha transfers her own energy in the work that she created. Divinity in the subject can be verified with bull as a main central attraction of her work. Small details add more panorama in her inventive process. 
The sounds of waves, splashes of water and the environment of Krabi is depicted on the painting of Sagar Manandhar in an ambiguous forms.
All artists enjoyed and carved a new source of energy from the workshop which ended on 5th August, 2018. The exhibition of paintings created on workshop was inaugurated on 6th of August 2018. The workshop was exciting with all new experiences and the knowledge were shared among the participants on the event. But there was another interesting episode of this tour, the chance to see the Museum of Contemporary Art (MOCA) at Bangkok. The building spread within two kilometers and need two hours to only glance at the work collected at the museum. It was thrilling and somehow surprised to see well maintained creative works. Collection of sculptures, paintings and installation was huge and importance given to the national and international category of Thailand artist was glorified. Big sized canvas and detailed sculpture filled new dynamism wanted to stay more communicating with the works collected. Love and respect to the artist and care taken was amazing. It leads us to think the value of art in Nepal. Where we stand and how we should develop the artistic venture of the leading and youth force of the art world. Same respect and care is much more needed in Nepal if we want to further strengthen the art sector on Nepal.
By Sagar Manandhar
