Mekh Bahadur Limbu Subba
Mekh Limbu’s paintings are the quest for the artist’s own identity. The world is varied and multiple. The buzzwords like computer, internet, email, facebook, New York, architect, telephone, reality, vision, discussion, exhibition, church, world, psychology and so on hit the artist’s ear. The words baffle the character on the canvas. Which way to follow? What is to learn? Go to London or New York as many Nepali youths dream? It is difficult to keep up with time and technology.
Mekh Limbu’s paintings are the quest for the artist’s own identity. The world is varied and multiple. The buzzwords like computer, internet, email, facebook, New York, architect, telephone, reality, vision, discussion, exhibition, church, world, psychology and so on hit the artist’s ear. The words baffle the character on the canvas. Which way to follow? What is to learn? Go to London or New York as many Nepali youths dream? It is difficult to keep up with time and technology.
The artist perceives modern cityscape as concrete jungle in cemetery. The valley is full of gray concrete boxes. The houses seem as if they are the residents for the dead. They do not provide aesthetic pleasure but the eyesore. The artist also juxtaposes the modern colossal buildings with traditional countryside cottage which has the warmth of home and aesthetic pleasure. The artist asks, “Why are we making the concrete jungle? Are we imitating the mediocre western building style?
The artist, the protagonist of the painting is frosted watching the melodrama of the so called political leaders. They are pretending of doing politics, speaking lies and cheating the ordinary people. The socio-economic condition of people is declining more and more. Nationalism is dismantled and fragmented. The nonsense noise of the politics is equivalent to the silence. There is no meaning in their action and verbal announcement.
There is crowd in the street and on the ground. It is difficult to identify oneself. The protagonist is lost in the stream of people. There is the question, “Who am I? What am I to do? Where am I going?” It is difficult to make our own face, to create a self portrait.
The buildings are broken. They are splashed with red, the symbol of violence. The country is devastated by war and conflict. The house turns gray, the symbol of death and extinction. The nation is on the verge of collapse. The question arises, “What the political parties are doing? What are we doing? Don’t we have any responsibility? The artist makes the viewers aware about the pathetic situation of the country and themselves
Education:
2011 Master Degree in Fine Arts, Tribhuwan University, Kathmandu, Nepal
2009-10 2D Animation Yeti Digital Studio, Kathmandu, Nepal
2006-08 Drawing & Painting, Renesa Institute of Fine Art, Lalitpur, Nepal
Selected Exhibitions:
2012 National Art Exhibition, Nepal Academy of Fine Art, Kathmandu, Nepal
2012 Nepali Traditional & Contemporary Art Exhibition, Chicago, USA
2011 New Expression on the Block, Siddhartha Art Gallery, Nepal
2011 Cultural Art Exhibition-2, Kirat Rai Yayhokkh, Nepal
2010 A Grand Exhibition of paintings, Sirjana Contemporary Art Gallery, Kathmandu, Nepal
2010 Culture 4 Peace, Collaborative Installation Art Kathmandu, Contemporary Art Centre
(KCAC), Jhamshikhel, Lalitpur, Nepal
2010 GET TOGETHER a contemporary art show, Nepal Art Council, Kathmandu, Nepal
2009 Voices Silence No Longer, PSM Gallery, Pokhara, Nepal
2009 Cultural Art Exhibition, Nepal Art Council, Kathmandu
2008 Alfresco Art Competition & Exhibition, Nepal Art Council, Kathmandu, Nepal
Workshops & Exhibitions:
2012 National Art Workshop, LASANAA, Kathmandu, Nepal
2012 Bodhi under the Tree, workshop Lumbini and exhibition
2012 Siddhartha Art Gallery, Babar Mahal Revisited, Nepal
2011 Artist in the City: Urbanization and Urban Culture, Interactive Mapping and Archiving
Project (IMAP), Kathmandu, Nepal
2011 Art theory & Art appreciation Orientation, LASANAA, Kathmandu, Nepal
2011 International Short Video Show Space A, an alternative art practice, Kathmandu
2010 International Art conference& Workshop, Glocolazation of Art, Contemporary art
Practice, Himalayan Hotel, & Lasanaa, Jhamshikhel, Lalitpur, Nepal
2010 Interactive Art Workshop (interactive art through social network) Space-A
2010 Serendipity Experimental print making workshop, Sirjana College of Fine Art
2010 ‘Short video art Workshop’ Space’ A’, Kathmandu, Nepal
2010 Art teacher Training Orientation and workshop, Kathmandu, Nepal
2009 ‘Kalakarkoaankhamabhumi’workshop & exhibition, Naxal, Kathmandu
2009 A workshop in collaboration with traditional South Asian artists,
Nepal Art Council & NAFA, Nepal
2008 1st International Mount Everest Day Painting workshop, Nagarkot
2008 Art workshop, Fine Art Campus, Kathmandu, Nepal
2007 Lalitkala Art Festival group art workshop, Fine art Campus, Kathmandu
Solo Exhibition:
2010 ‘Perception’ at Sirjana Contemporary Art Gallery, Uttar Dhoka, Lazimpat,
Kathmandu, Nepal,
Residencies:
2012 Artist in Residency, Kathmandu Contemporary Art Center, Patan Museum, Nepal
2012 Redefining Kathmandu Valley, LASANAA, Kathmandu, Nepal
2010 ‘Voices Silence No Longer’, Lumle Kaski, Nepal
2009 ‘Kalakarko aankhama bhumi’ Jyamirkot, Lalitpur, Nepal
Professional Experiences:
2011 Instructor (painting), Fine Arts Campus, Tribhuvan University, Nepal
2011 Illustrator Bhudhipuran Publication, Kathmandu, Nepal
2009 2D Animator Yeti Digital Studio, Kathmandu, Nepal
Fellowships & Awards:
2012 ‘Artist in Residency’, Kathmandu Contemporary Art Center(KCAC), Patan
2012 ‘Redefining Kathmandu Valley’, LASANAA, Kathmandu, Nepal
2009 ‘Prashant Scholarship Award’, Prashant Memorial Society, Nepal
2007 ‘Sita Shree Intelligence Award’, Panta Memorial Foundation, Nepal
Affiliation with Organizations:
LASANAA, an alternative art space
Fine Art Campus
Founder Member & Secretary of Kirat Fine Art Society
