Meena Kayastha

Lyric, poetry, rhythm and life are the key elements of Meena Kayastha’s sculptures. Lyricism is the meaningful way of living life. Rhythm in life makes the journey smooth, flowing and spontaneous. The lyric connects one heart to another heart, the human heart to the world. There is poetic moment in sadness and happiness, life and death, love and loss, home and street, agony and chaos. A poet, an artist perceives lyric and love even in junkyard, trash and discarded things. Love and lyric is the mantra for living lyrical life, the works seem to suggest.

Lyric, poetry, rhythm and life are the key elements of Meena Kayastha’s sculptures. Lyricism is the meaningful way of living life. Rhythm in life makes the journey smooth, flowing and spontaneous. The lyric connects one heart to another heart, the human heart to the world. There is poetic moment in sadness and happiness, life and death, love and loss, home and street, agony and chaos. A poet, an artist perceives lyric and love even in junkyard, trash and discarded things. Love and lyric is the mantra for living lyrical life, the works seem to suggest.

In lyric of love, one heart comes near to another heart and strikes the tune to create rhythm. Perhaps, we all have experienced the rhythm of love. It evaporates all dark melancholy and cold loneliness with dynamic warmth and joy.

Mother’s lyrics flow toward the child. Blood flows, milk flows, kiss flows, life flows. Haven’t we experienced the mother’s love, parent’s love toward the baby?

Obviously, there is lyric with musicians. However, there is lyric even in chaos in Meena Kayastha’s sculptures. You won’t always find the world organized and ordered, simple and comprehensible. Then, you will find there disorder and chaos. Are you trying to escape from the chaos? Where will you go? No way out. Thus, find rhythm in the chaos. Even chaos and disorder are a part of us and the world. So, why not to enjoy them? Then, how to enjoy? Find lyric, music and rhythm in chaos, her works seem to say.

Then comes the lyric of agony. Life is not full of happiness and pleasure. Sadness and joy are two sides of a coin. Tragedy and agony are more poetic than comedy. Look at Shakespeare’s plays. Agony has its own dignity. Accept it and celebrate it as music and rhythm.

Similarly the street has its own rhythm. The movement of vehicles, strolling people, waving of the traffic police, the scorching sun. The panorama creates lyric and poetry in the artist.

The artist accepts junks (rusted pipes, wheels, rods, chains, marbles, wire) as she accepts beautiful things. She gives life to the junks and trash as the decayed dead body gives life to the plants. Earth like tone reminds us of primitive and tribal arts. The concept of earth colour, primitive art and recycling are coherent, that is, let’s recycle the junk, let’s save the earth, let’s keep natural balance as in primitive times.

Date of Birth: 1983

Academic Qualification

IFA, Sirjana College of Fine Arts, TU

DFA, Department of Art and Centre, KU

BFA, Centre for Art and Design, KU

Solo Exhibition:

2011: “Lyrics from the Junkyard” at Siddhartha Art Gallery, Kathmandu, Nepal

2016: “Divine Debris” at Siddhartha Art Gallery, Kathmandu, Nepal

Participation in Group exhibition and art workshops:

2018: Nepal- Thailand Art Exchange art workshop

2017: 10th Luxor International Painting Symposium, Egypt

2015: Ceramic workshop

2014: Artist Residency organized by Creative Fusion, USA (PERIOD: 3 MONTHS)

2012: 2nd International Art Festival, Biennale tittled “Earth Body and Mind” Organized by Siddhartha Art Gallery, Kathmandu, Nepal.

2011: Group exhibition at Bangladesh Biennale

2010: 1st International Art Festival, “Separating Myth from Reality” organized by Siddhartha Art Gallery, Kathmandu, Nepal

2009: Installation Workshop Organized by SUTRA-YUBA, KUart Centre, Kathmandu, Nepal

2008: Installation Workshop Organized by “SUTRA”, Nepal Art Council, Kathmandu, Nepal

2006: Stone art conservation workshop led by German Art Conservator Ms. Konstanza V. Zur Muehlers in Saankhu, collaboration with KUart Centre and UNESCO, Kathmandu, Nepal

2006: End Year Exhibition, KUart Centre, Singha Art Gallery, Lalitpur, Nepal

2005: Kathmandu University Project Exhibition (KUPEX), KU, Dhulikhel, Nepal

Art Project

2005: Installation Art Project led by French Artist George Rousse in Bhaktapur and Panauti, Nepal