Narayan Bohaju
Narayan Bohaju’s paintings capture the varieties of images and objects that are available in his surroundings like a queue of empty pitchers at a tap without water, the arrangement of commodities at shop, parked bicycle at roadside and people crammed in the train. He attempts to figure out rhythm and song even in disorder, chaos and cry.
Narayan Bohaju’s paintings capture the varieties of images and objects that are available in his surroundings like a queue of empty pitchers at a tap without water, the arrangement of commodities at shop, parked bicycle at roadside and people crammed in the train. He attempts to figure out rhythm and song even in disorder, chaos and cry.
The empty pitchers cry for water. There is the lack of running taps in Kathmandu valley. The line of empty vassals reaches to the horizon. The pathetic condition renders the artist’s heart. Yet, the artist finds music in the series of empty pots. The flow of shapes in continuum creates a movement and rhythm.
The artist finds songs even in the bricks of the wall. The arrangement of the bricks creates a pattern. The artist shares this aspect from the traditional architecture of Kathmandu valley.
The huddled cycles in store one over the other generally create mess and confusion but in Bohaju’s painting they give aesthetic effect.
The gray bicycle at roadside suggests the hard work and labor of the rider. One imagines the energy and perspiration of the worker.
The artist’s imagination knows no bound. He makes a tree with the leaves of sandals and slippers. He compares leaves and sandals to renew the viewers’ perception. He goes beyond our imagination.
The packed assortment of the commodities also suggests the crowd and over population in the city. He shows the pain of narrow room and congested suburb. As the commodities and utensils are packed, the men are packed in the train. This suggests the so called modern mechanical world. The human emotions are silent and suppressed. The human are treated as commodity and things.
The artist does not only represent the external world but also puts forward his response. His works are mild social criticism.
Date of birth: 25thJuly 1985
Education and Qualification
MFA. Painting from Banaras Hindu University, India (2012)
BFA. Painting, Kathmandu University, Nepal (2009)
IFA (intermediate). Painting from Lalit Kala Campus, Bhotahiti, Kathmandu (2005)
Employment
Visiting Faculty
Kathmandu University
School of Arts, Department of Art and Design,
School of Engineering, Department of Civil and Architecture
Publication/ exhibition/ Research/ Projects
Art exhibition
2019 – Beyond the Object, solo painting exhibition at Dalai-La Art Space, Thamel Kathmandu. 2016 – ‘Solidarity’ group show with eminent artist Kiran Manandhar at Alliance Francoise
2016 – Participate in National fine art exhibition
2015 – ‘Camp Hub’/ 12 Baishak, community art project/ exhibition at Thulo byasi Bhaktapur.
2017/018- Participate in Himalayan Art Festival
2015 – Artists from Banaras Hindu University, group exhibition of BHU graduates at Siddhartha Art Gallery, Kathmandu
2014 – ‘Amalgam’ Group art exhibition at Siddhartha Art Gallery, Babarmahal, Kathmandu
2013 – ‘Kala Jatra’ at Kathmandu Contemporary Art Centre’ Patan Museum, Lalitpur
2012 – ‘2nd Kathmandu International Art Festival (KIAF)’
2012 – ‘Click Click’ group photography exhibition at Tekha pokhari, Bhaktapur
2012 – New Light – II, (A Song of Local Sounds) Solo exhibition at Kriti Gallery, Varanasi, India
2009- “Colour of Horizon” Solo exhibition at Nepal art Council, Kathmandu
2011- Group Painting exhibition In Varanasi
2011- “Global Nest” group art exhibition of international student of Faculty of Visual Art, Banaras Hindu University
2009- “Garbage out of Thin Air” workshop exhibition at Imago dei Gallery, Kathmandu
2008- “In Between” student exchange program Nepal – The Netherlands at Nepal Art Council, Kathmandu
2008/2012- Participant in “Amalgam” at Siddhartha Art Gallery, Kathmandu
2003/2004/2005- Participation in 34th 35yh 36thNational Art Exhibition at NAFA. Kathmandu
Art Workshop/ Camp/ Residency
2015- ‘12 Baishak’ Camp Hub. Community Art Project (site specific art project in Thulo Byasi, Bhaktapur a highly earth quake effected area)
2013- Artist in residency organise by Indian Ateliers, at International Centre, Goa, India
2011- Art Camp organized by ICCR, Raja Ghat Varanasi, India
2011- “The Banyan Tree” at BHU. Varanasi
2010- “SAMHITA” National level seminar cum workshop, College of Art, New Delhi, India
2008- Painting workshop, Nepal Orthopedic Hospital, Nepal
2008– “In Between” student exchange program Nepal (Ned-Nep project)
2008- “Save Bagmati Art Workshop
2002- “Peace Art Workshop” organized by Zero Century Nepal, Kathmandu
