Gopal Kalapremi Shrestha

Gopal Kalapremi Shrestha, the Sculptor, creates terracotta pottery works in modernized forms. “Kumudinee”, the white lotus is one of recurrent images in his works. The white lotus blooms at night. According to the Hindu and Buddhist mythologies, the white lotus is the symbol of purity, spirituality and enlightenment. In religious iconography, a number of deities are found seated on lotus.

Gopal Kalapremi Shrestha, the Sculptor, creates terracotta pottery works in modernized forms. “Kumudinee”, the white lotus is one of recurrent images in his works. The white lotus blooms at night. According to the Hindu and Buddhist mythologies, the white lotus is the symbol of purity, spirituality and enlightenment. In religious iconography, a number of deities are found seated on lotus. The artist perceives spiritual power in nature. Thus, he takes the images of nature as the subject matters of his works. He has presented the images of Kumudinee in the medium of black smoked terracotta. His works are sensuous and organic.

Kalapremi is not only the sculptor but also a poet. He presents his poems with sculptures simultaneously. Generally the poems are about the art works themselves and the process of creation. Hence, creative and critical process go hand in hand. As a poet, he knows the importance of rhythm and music in poem. He finds it equally useful in other genres of art as well. Hence, he applies this poetic element in the images of Kumudini too. And the visual images of the lotus are themselves poetic creations. There is parallel situation in how beauty blossoms in lotus, and how clay gets transformed into a work of art. No doubt the works of art are the representations of multiple dimensions and nuances of the lotus. However, in some sense, they resemble to various postures, expressions, moods of sensuous women. Some of them look like vases too.

Kalapremi has also created terracotta bottles which carry the organicity of plant, low relief carvings on the surface, the texture of sensuous soil and the colour of fine painting. The carvings have floral decorative patterns of early sculptures. Whatever he creates, he connects them to the nature. Here too, he takes a piece of vine and inserts into the bottle maintaining the proximity with organic matter. Through the bottle works, the artist explores the human existential angst and void. Despite the external beauty and sensuousness, the inner part is always empty. In the same fashion, although modern men and women seem colourful, variegated and glittering, hollowness, loneliness and melancholy reigns within them. Thus his terracotta bottle is the analogy of the tragic human condition. The artist is always conscious about socio-political events of the country and forwards his subtle comment through the works of arts. He presents the broken pottery plates to imply the fragmented and chaotic world outside.

Date of Birth : 1965-05-01

Education :

S.L.C. from Shivapuri Secondary School, Kathmandu, Nepal.
Bachelor in Fine Art, Lalit Kala Campus, Bhotahity, Kathmandu,
Nepal

Work History:

Fine Art Teacher : Bhanubhakta Memorial School, Panipokhari, Kathmandu-since 1984
Chand Bagh School, Bansbari, Kathmandu, Nepal-since 1997
Lecturer in Fine Art : SIMS Educational Institute, Panipokhari,
Kathmandu – 1998 – 2000

Trainer :

Ceramic Promotion Project, Ministry of
Industry/HMG, Nepal & ZDH-since 1989-2000.
Founder : Gokem Art Ceramic Studio for research &
development of ceramic and Nepali Terracotta Technique – since 1985

Author : Clay Art, Science & Psychology (BOOK) 

Art Camp

Nepal – Bangladesh Art Camp, Nepal – 1997
Nepal Breast (France) Art Camp, Nepal-1999
Khoj Residency India -2003
Coxing The Nature, Nepal – 2003
Monsoon Harmony Art Camp, Nepal-2002
Nuga Mikha International Artist’s Workshop, Nepal-2004
SAARC Ceramic Art Camp, Sri Lanka-1985
Britto International Art Workshop, Bangladesh –2004
Utistha Art Workshop, Osho Tapoban, Nepal 2005
Participated in Sculpture, Ceramic and Handicraft exhibition in different countries.
Sutra Art Workshop, Pokhara -2006
Sutra International Art Workshop, Patan-2006

Member

Nepal Association of Fine Art
Young Artist Group
Nepal Artist Society
Tradition Artist Group
Nepal Ceramic Association (advisor)
Handicraft Association of Nepal
Nepal Ceramic co-operation Society
Floriculture Association Nepal
Kids Energy of year (founder Member)-president
Sutra International Artist Group (Founder Member) – Vice President
Art Teacher Association (Founder Member) – President
Arambha Contemporary Sculptor Group (Founder Member)

Award

• Children Sculpture Competition, Nepal Children Organization, Consolation 1973
• Children Sculpture Competition, Nepal Children, Nepal Children Organization. 1974
• National Drama Competition, Highly appreciation 1983
• Awarded as a consolation in Cartoon Art Competition – Royal Nepal Academy 1983
• Cartoon Art Competition Third – Royal Nepal Academy 1983
• Handicraft Promotion Project Second-Contemporary Ceramics 1994
• National Art Competition Contemporary Sculpture- Consolation – NAFA 1985
• Awarded as a Best Villain in Drama show – Royal Nepal Academy 1985
• National Art Competition Contemporary Sculpture – Consolation-NAFA 1986
• Handicraft Promotion Project Consolation – Contemporary Ceramic 1992
• Handicraft Promotion Project Third – Contemporary Ceramics 1993
• Art Forum, Best Artist 1994
• Awarded as a Best Cottage Industrialist from His Majesty’s Gov. of Nepal 1995
• National Art Competition – First – Contemporary Sculpture -NAFA 1996
• Rangalal Bangdel Art Prize-Second – Contemporary Sculpture 1999
• Arniko Art Award & Gold Medal – Contemporary Sculpture 2000
• National Art Competition– Contemporary Sculpture Special Award 2005
• Creative artist of the year – Nepal Art Society 2005

“Asian Master” Fellowship, Jeonju, South Korea

Single Show

“Peace from Love” – Kathmandu Art Gallery 1998

“The Muse” – Bamboo Art Gallery 1999

“Millennium” – Hotel De’ La Annapurna Gallery 2000

“Gold Fish” – Bamboo Art Gallery 2000

“Kalapremi with Students” – Srijana Art Gallery 2001

“Khoj” – Participate in International Residency Program 2003

“Single show in New Delhi” – India, Khoj 2003

“Darker days of my country” – Nafa Art Gallery 2005

“The Bottle” – Gallery Nine 2005

“Kumudini” – Black Ware Ceramic-Siddhartha Art Gallery 2008