Kailash K Shrestha

Kailash K Shrestha’s paintings create meditative ambiance with occasional presence of meditative figure, perhaps the portrait of artist himself. In mystical and peaceful background stand some thin small indistinct vertical figures thereby giving the impression of distant time and space. Such representation suggests the artist’s quest of metaphysical beings and existence. The meditative figure looks beyond the immediate surrounding not with his physical eyes but with inner spirit. His canvases are vertical and the neck of the character is stretched. In other words, his monumental portraits are larger than life.

Kailash K Shrestha’s paintings create meditative ambiance with occasional presence of meditative figure, perhaps the portrait of artist himself. In mystical and peaceful background stand some thin small indistinct vertical figures thereby giving the impression of distant time and space. Such representation suggests the artist’s quest of metaphysical beings and existence. The meditative figure looks beyond the immediate surrounding not with his physical eyes but with inner spirit. His canvases are vertical and the neck of the character is stretched. In other words, his monumental portraits are larger than life. His selection of such canvas and the portrayal of such characters have some significance. The vertical canvas allows the artist to depict the mystical world beyond, and the pulled neck suggests the meditating figure’s implied movement toward that world. In a word, his works present the artist’s spiritual quest with the silent flow of colours, lines and images.

Kailash always invents his own medium for expression. He creates beautiful paintings on newspaper as well using charcoal. He reads the news items in the paper and responds them visually within and around the text. At first view, one would not recognize it was a combination of vision and newspaper textuality. All the elements seem well organized and fully coherent. Shattered by the tragic news reports he expresses his agony on the papers.

Some of his works present the simplicity of children and primitive men. Perhaps, his spiritual quest took him to the innocence of childhood. Taking children’s subject matters and style, he is digging out his own past. He paints sunrise, sunset, rains, clouds, children’s games with distinct contours, and flat and primary colours. He is on the process to unlearn what he has learned. He has identified the truth that, for creativity, children’s innocence is essential.

Name : Kailash K Shrestha
Father : Prem Raj Shrestha
Mother : Pran Maya Shrestha (late)

Education
Master in Arts (Nepali History, Culture & Archeology),
Tribhuvan University, (Pursuing)
Bachelor of Fine Arts (Advanced Painting plus Illustrations/Photography),
Kathmandu University, 2007 AD. With Distinction.
I.F.A from Lalitkala Campus in 2004 AD. (Tribhuvan University)
Com. from Public Youth Campus in 2002 AD. (Tribhuvan University)
S.L.C from Janajyoti Secondary School in 2000 AD. (HMG Board)

Grants/Awards
2016 SAFEI Art Grant for Dolakha Album: a curated community homestay art residency hosted by Artudio in Gairimudi, Dolakha
2009 Prestigious Himalayan Artist Award from Australian Himalayan Foundation
2007 Consolation Prize in Photography Competition organized by National Organization of Photojournalist
2000 Second Prize in District Level Drama Writing Competition organized by Nepal Junior Red Cross Circle, Dolakha

Group Exhibitions

2021 Himalayan Art Exhibition, Organized by E-Arts Nepal at Nepal Art Council, Babar Mahal                    2018-2019 Himalayan Art Festival 2018, Organized by E-Arts Nepal at Nepal Art Council, Babar Mahal    2018-2019 Amalgam, Organized by Siddhartha Art Gallery, Babermahal                                                               2018 Kathmandu Art Fair, Curated by Artudio and Organized by Lalitkala Manch, Rastriya Nachghar, Jamal Kathmandu, Nepal
2017 Kathmandu Triennale, Organized by Siddhartha Arts Foundation, Nepal Art Council, Babarmahal , Kathmandu, Nepal
2016 Fundraising Exhibition in New York.
2016 The Solace of Art, Nepal Art Council and Siddhartha Art Gallery
2016 Fundraising art+photography exhibition for Earthquake trauma healing by Global Art Collective in USA

2015 Artists’ Unite for fundraising exhibition for flood victims at Sidhhartha Art Gallery
2014 Group show at Tibet Art Gallery, Australia
2013 “KALAJATRA”  Nepal’s 1st Art Carnival a group exhibition at Patan Museum
2013 “Panorama” a group exhibition, Bikalpa Art Center, Jhamsikhel
2012 “NOMADIC TIME & SPACE” 2012 Asia Residency program in Nepal, Lasana
2012 Photo Exhibition, Lalitpur Expo
2012 Amalgam, Siddhartha Art Gallery
2011 “Shree Ganesh” School Of Creative Communications, Nepal Art Council, Babar Mahal
2011 Park Gallery Art Fair, Park Gallery, Pulchowk
2010 “14th Asian Art Biennale”, Bangladesh
2010 “Propagation” International Art Exhibition of paintings with 5 Korean and 6 Nepali Artists at Siddhartha Art Gallery, Baber Mahal Revisited, Kathmandu
2010 “Aperture” Cultural exchange between China and Nepal, International Photo Exhibition with
Chinese & Nepali Photographers, Nepal Academy, Kamaladi and Nepal Art Council, Babarmahal
2010 Separating Myth from Reality “Status of Women” International Art Festival, Siddhartha Art
Gallery, Babermahal Revisited, Kathmandu
2009 Working on land issue organized by Lasanaa “an alternative art space”, NAFA Art Gallery,
Naxal
2009 Group Art Exhibition organized by Lalit Kala Manch, Birgunj
2009 “Water & Art”, International Art Exhibition organized by Yalamaya Kendra and Triangle Artist
Group, Bangladesh, Yalamaya Kendra, Patan Dhoka, Kathmandu
2009 “Reflection of New Nepal”, organized by ANFA, Nepal Art Council, Babarmahal, Kathmandu
2008 ‘Grand Show’, organized by Sutra Art Centre, Nepal Art Council, Kathmandu
2008 ‘Amalgam’, organized by Siddhartha Art Gallery, Siddhartha Art Gallery, Baber Mahal Revisited,
Kathmandu
2008 ‘Naya Aawaz Haru-New Voices’, organized by Sutra Art Centre, Nepal Art Council, Babarmahal
2007 ‘Graduation Show-2007’ Group Art & Design Exhibition, organized by KUart Centre, Nepal
Art Council, Babarmahal, Kathmandu
2006 ‘Jazzmandu’ Painting/Photography Exhibition, organized by Jazzmandu, Hotel Shangri-La,
Kathmandu
2006 End Year Exhibition organized by KUart Centre, Singha Art Gallery, Lalitpur Industrial State,
Kathmandu
2006 Painting Exhibition, organized by Nepal British Society, Hotel Hyatt Regency, Kathmandu
2006 Collaborative backdrops painting exhibition with British Artist, British Council
2005 ‘Kathmandu University Project Exhibition (KUPEX)’, Kathmandu University, Dhulikhel
2005 End Year Exhibition organized by Department of Art and Design, Kathmandu University, Bhaktapur
2005 4th Juddhakala Art Exhibition organized by Zero Century, NAFA, Kathmandu
2004 3rd Juddhakala Art Exhibition organized by Zero Century, NAFA, Kathmandu
2003 34th National Art Exhibition Organized by National Association of Fine Arts (NAFA)
2002 33rd National Art Exhibition Organized by National Association of Fine Arts (NAFA)

Solo

2021 “Isolation” organized by Tulikaa at Vangogh Gallery, Dhokaima Café, Patandhoka, Lalitpur
2010 “Silent Flow” organized by Siddhartha Art Gallery, Baber Mahal Revisited, Kathmandu
2007 “A Shift of Vision” organized by Lalitkala bi-monthly Art Magazine at Nepal Art Council,
Babarmahal, Kathmandu

Workshops

2017 Rivers of the world, Totally Thames festival, Thames Festival Trust, London
2016 Masterclass on Behaviour Change Media Campaigns, Siddhartha Arts Foundation Education Initiative, Yalamaya Kendra from September 12-14.
2016 Critical Writing on Arts workshop, Siddhartha Arts Foundation Education Initiative.
April 20, 2016 – April 22, 2016
Baggikhana Hall (Ground Floor), Yalamaya Kendra, Patandhoka
2016 Interior and Exhibition Design Workshop, Siddhartha Arts Foundation Education Initiative, May 15th – May 18th, 2016, Yala Maya Kendra, Patandhoka.
2015 “INTRODUCTION TO CURATING” with Veeranganakumari Solanki, Siddhartha Arts Foundation Education Initiative, 20-24 Feb.
2014 “Mixed media photo collage workshop with Jullian Parker Burns at Kathmandu Contemporary Arts Centre, Patan Museum, Lalitpur
2012 “NOMADIC TIME & SPACE” 2012 Asia Residency program in Nepal, Lasanaa
2012 Re-defining Kathmandu Valley, Lasanaa
2011 Three months workshop on Filmmaking, Docskool-KUart 2010
2009 5 days’ Workshop on land issue organized By Lasanaa “an alternative art space”, Jyamirkot, Lubhu
2009 Workshop on Drama “Buengal Vayeko Ghar” organized by Shaili Theater, Russian Culture center, Kamalpokhari
2009 Workshop Anandaban Leprosy Hospital, Lele, Lalitpur
2009 “Water and Art” International Art workshop organized by Triangle Artist Group Bangladesh, Yalamaya Kendra, Patan Dhoka, Kathmandu
2008 FundRaising workshop for Koshi Flood Victims organized by Women Artist Group of Nepal
(WAGON), Nepal Art Council, Babarmahal, Kathmandu
2008 Fund Raising Workshop for Orthopedic Hospital organized by Orthopedic Hospital, Jorpati,
Kathmandu
2008 ‘5 days’ workshop organized by Sutra Art Centre, Nepal Art Council, Babarmahal, Kathmandu
2008 Bagmati Abhiyan organized by Commercial Artists Association of Nepal, Kathmandu

2008 Aananda Ban Leprosy Hospital, Lele
2007 Nagarik Vela, Kirtipur
2006 Celebrating Line organized by Kathmandu University Centre for Art and Design, Bhaktapur
2005 Sketch Workshop organized by Sutra Art Centre, Basantapur, Kathmandu
2005 Inter Fine Art College Workshop organized by National Association of Fine Arts, NAFA,
Kathmandu

Residencies
2016 Dolakha Album: Curated community homestay art residency Hosted by Artudio in Dolakha and Curated by Kailash K Shrestha.
2013 Marpha Ressidency Program by Marpha Foundation
2012 “Nomadic Time & Space” 2012 Asia Residency Program in Nepal with Korean Artists at Lasanaa (LAH)
2011 “Being in Kathmandu Valley-redefine Kirtipur”, research based Art Residency organized by
Lasanaa ‘an alternative art space’, Kathmandu
2009-10 One year Residency sponsored by Australian Himalayan Foundation
2008 “Naya Aawaz Haru-New Voices“ 6 months Art Residency organized by Sutra Art Centre, Kapan,
Kathmandu

Curatorial Projects

2020 Vritual Art Event and Exhibition jointly organized by Artudio and UNHCR
2017 Rivers of the World Art Exhibition by Thames Festival Trust London in partnership with British Council Nepal in WOW Festival (Pulchok Engineering Campus), British School (Sanepal), Motherland School (Pokhara), Taal Barahai (Pokhara), Gaurishankar Campus (Charikot, Dolakha), Satdobato Chok (Charikot, Dolakha) and Pran Community Art Center (Baityashwor-2, Gairimudi, Dolakha)
2017 Not Name a Name and exhibition by Bengali Artist Arfun at Artudio, Centre for Visual Arts, Chhauni Hospital Road, Swoyambhu, Kathmandu Nepal
2016 You Are The Observer an exhibition by German Artist Lena Koester at Artudio, Center for visual arts, Chhauni Hospital Road, Swoyambhu, Kathmandu Nepal
2016 Dolakha Album: a week long community homestay art residency 2016, Gairimudi, Dolakha
2015 Yantra Art.Tech.Science (Co- curation with Nischal Oli)
2015 Photo Exhibition Marking 100,000 resettlement of Bhutanese Refugees, Hotel Sangri-la, Lazimpat

Affiliation

• Initiator/ Founder of Artudio “Centre for Visual Arts”
• President of Odan KUart & Design Alumni

Professional Experiences

• 2009 : Art Director at Incessant Rain Animation Studio
• 2009 : Set Designer for Shailee Theatre
• 2009 :Winter art camp instructor for school children
• 2006 : Assistance set designer for Actors’ Studio
• 2005 : Teaching drawing and painting to street children at CWIN, Kathmandu
• 2002 to till now: Senior Art Instructor at Whitefield school and The Excelsior School

Collections

• Social Science Baha
• British Ambassador
• City Museum Kathmandu
• Australian Embassy
• Australian Himalayan Foundation
• Dibya Deep Jyoti Secondary School
• Hyatt Hotel
• Kathmandu University
• Khetan Group
• Lasanaa “An alternative art space”
• Mega Bank
• Laxmi Bank
• Nepal Investment Bank
• School of Creative Communications
• Sutra Art Centre
• Whitefield Higher Secondary School

Individuals:

Nepali, Swiss, French, Danish, Dutch, Korean, Finish, Japanese, American, Indian, Australian, Iris and British