Ragini Upadhyay renders religious tolerance, and the space of women in Nepali society, and revolts against political violence through her inter-textual and inter-generic art forms. She depicts social unrest and degeneration, and looks forward to the peace and stability. Some of her graphic works have been inspired by the teachings and philosophy of Lord Buddha. They reveal a yearning for peace and compassion. Ragini endeavors to promote the importance of cultural and religious tolerance and appeal for peace.

Ragini Upadhyay renders religious tolerance, and the space of women in Nepali society, and revolts against political violence through her inter-textual and inter-generic art forms. She depicts social unrest and degeneration, and looks forward to the peace and stability. Some of her graphic works have been inspired by the teachings and philosophy of Lord Buddha. They reveal a yearning for peace and compassion. Ragini endeavors to promote the importance of cultural and religious tolerance and appeal for peace.

Her paintings are intertextual, for she takes allusions from fables, oriental myths and folktales. Verbal texts in “devanagari scripts”, and “comic strips” are juxtaposed with visual images creating inter-art relationship. Her works combine “the comic with the serious, the graphics with paintings, fun with sadness and forms with empty space”.

Ragini also depicts the follies, cruelty and violence of the patriarchal society through feminist perspective, and attempts to carve the women’s space in history. “Ragini in the paintings of the Nepali paper series has captured the weak points of human nature, especially the games monopolized by men as their prerogatives, like politics, violence, backbiting and fighting for gains. Woman also figures up in these works but only as someone who standing by the corner of the horizontal space watches the drama. But the narrator, the moderator and the censor of these stories is a woman. The gap between the visible and the invisible therefore is the state of irony in her paintings.”

Her lines and colours are bold, aggressive and direct. She gives emphasis to the feeling, emotion and imagination rather than objective representation. Her works are experimental, for she always invents new techniques for her presentation. Her forms are not predetermined but evolve on the process of creation. Her favorite medium is graphics.

As the images presented in the various segments of the canvas, the union of the artist with her art work is not the sudden achievement but the gradual development from one stage to another through constant engagement with her media. The artist suspends herself and becomes music and media.

In addition to this, the works can be taken as meta art, for the artist explores about the process of creating art and drives home the idea that one should dissolve himself/herself with the work of art and media to be an artist.

Ragini Upadhyay’s compositions depict the possible intervention of the supernatural and mythical power to restore the order and harmony in the conflict-ridden fragmented and chaotic socio-political scenario of contemporary Nepal. The serpent or the nagain Nepali is considered as the deity in Hindu mythology. The temples are the metonymical representation of the Hinduism. The sun is also worshipped as a god. The image of the sun is also the symbol of nationalism, for it is the image present in the Nepali flag. The image of Kundalini Shakti is coherent to the reviving naga in the sense that the naga has sprung up as the arousal of Kundalini.

The composition implies that the artist is dissatisfied with the burgeoning political forces of various sort which threaten to dismantle the traditional order. To preserve the deep-rooted institutions, the artist dreams of the revival of the mythical and supernatural power.

(Artist/Printmaker)

Former Chancellor, Nepal Academy of Fine Arts (2014-2018)

Member, BP Koirala India-Nepal Foundation (BPKF)

Director, Artist Proof Gallery, Nepal

Former President, Women Artists’ Group of Nepal (WAGON)

 

EDUCATION:

1982 Graduated in Fine Arts from Lucknow College of Arts and Crafts, Lucknow, India

1983-85 Studied the Print’s Techniques at the Artist Corner-Lalit Kala Academy, Garhi, New Delhi, India

• Peacock Printmaker, Aberdeen, Scotland, fellowship sponsored by the British Council
• Oxford Printmaker, England, fellowship sponsored by the British Council
• Kunste Akademy, Stuttgard, sponsored by Deutsch-Nepalischen Hilfsgemeinschaft E.V., Stuttgart, Germany

 

PROFESSIONAL APPOINTMENTS:

1992   Guest artist at the Radier Werkstadt, Kampen Sylt, Germany

1994   Guest artist at the Radier Werkstadt, Kampen Sylt, Germany

1996   Guest artist at the Radier Werkstadt, Kampen Sylt, Germany

1996   Visiting lecturer at the Lahti’s Fine Art Institute and Türku Fine Art Institute, Finland

1996   Visiting lecturer at Indus Valley School of Art and Architecture, Karachi, Pakistan

• Presentation on Women Issue Paintings at Kulturmagasinet Museum, Helsingborg, Sweden
• Talk program on Ragini Art at Kulturmagasinet Museum, Helsingborg, Sweden
• Visiting lecturer at Karachi School of Arts, Karachi, Pakistan
• Workshop on Nepali paper on etching at Institute of Art and Design, University of Sindh, Jamshoro, Pakistan
• Presentation on Nepalese Contemporary Women Artists at International Art Conference, Jamshoro, Sindh, Pakistan
• Presentation on Ragini Art at Pekka Halonen Academy of Art, Tuusula, Finland
• Presentation on work Series Time Wheel at University of Art and Design, Helsinki, Finland
• Presentation on Ragini Art at FOMMA, Karachi, Pakistan
• Presentation on Ragini Art at National Council of Art (NCA), Islamabad, Pakistan
• Workshop presentation on Nepali Paper on etching at Rawalpindi College of Art, Rawalpindi, Pakistan
• Guest of Honour and presentation on Ragini Art at Gorakhpur International Art Conference, Gorakhpur, India

2013   Presentation on Work Series People’s Power on Nepal Day at R. Joest, Museum Köln, Germany

2014 to 2018 Chancellor of Nepalese Fine Arts Academy.

2018   Invited as Guest Artist at 18^th Bangladesh Biennale, Dhaka, Bangladesh

 

SOLO EXHIBITIONS:

• National Association of Fine Arts, Kathmandu, Nepal in the presence of late poet Bal Krishna Sama
• Royal Nepal Airlines, Kathmandu, Nepal
• October Gallery, Vajra Hotel, Kathmandu, Nepal
• Fine Art Academy of Lucknow, India, sponsored by Lalit Kala Academy of Lucknow and Inaugurated by Late Nepalese Prime Minister B.P. Koirala
• Morya Hotel, Patna, India
• Fine Art Academy of India, Ravindra Bhawan, New Delhi, sponsored by the Nepalese Embassy in India
• October Gallery in Vajra Hotel, Kathmandu, Nepal
• National Association of Fine Arts, Kathmandu, inaugurated by Her Majesty the Queen Aishwarya of Nepal
• October Gallery at Vajra Hotel, Kathmandu, Nepal
• British Council Hall, Kathmandu, Nepal, sponsored by British Council, Nepal, inaugurated by the Late Prime Minister          Mr. Marich Man Singh
• Deutsch-Nepalischen Hilfsgemeinschaft e.v., Stuttgart, Germany
• Goethe Institute Hall, sponsored by Goethe Institute, Frankfurt, Germany, Guests of Honours: the Consul of Nepal in Frankfurt and late Mrs. Busak 1990   Goethe Institute Hall, sponsored by Goethe Institute, Schwäbisch Hall, Germany
• Goethe Institute, Kathmandu, Nepal, inaugurated by the Late Prime Minister Mr. Krishna Prasad Bhattarai
• Shimba Gallery, Tokoshima, Japan 1991   Ujuka Gallery, Naruto, Japan
• Hananj Restaurant and gallery, Kamojima, Japan
• British Council Hall, sponsored by British Council, Kathmandu, Nepal
• 1992  Galerie Art du Temps, Verviers, Belgium
• 1992   Galerie Eglau, Radier Werkstadt, Kampen, Germany
• 1994   French Cultural Centre, sponsored by French Cultural Centre, Kathmandu, Nepal – Politics, Dust and Love
• 1994   Galerie Eglau, Radier Werkstadt, Kampen, Germany
• Gallery Gamlastan, Helsingborg, Sweden
• National Fine Art Association, Kathmandu, Nepal – The Myth of Politics
• Gallery S, Eupen, Belgium
• Gallery Joella, Türku, Finland – Windows
• Majuma Art Gallery, Karachi, Pakistan
• Goethe Institute, Kathmandu, Nepal – Goddesses and Women, Mythology and Reality
• Grand Hotel, Taipei, Taiwan, as part of the YWCA World Meeting on Violence Against Women
• Gallery Oljemark, Helsinki, sponsored by the Finnish Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Nepal Finland Society – Goddesses and Women, Mythology and Reality
• Gallery Harmaja, Oulu, Finland, sponsored by the Finnish Ministry of Foreign Affairs
• Siddhartha Art Gallery, Kathmandu, Nepal – Sensitive Women
• 1999   Gallery Bellange, Ateljer, Stockholm, Sweden – Sensitive Women
• 2001   Siddhartha Art Gallery, Kathmandu, Nepal –Ragini’s Odyssey 2001, inaugurated by her Majesty the Queen Aishwarya of Nepal
• 2001   Studio am Schloss, Berlin, Germany
• Atelier I.S., Eupen, Belgium, inaugurated by H.E. Kedar Bhakta Shrestha, Ambassador of Nepal to the EU
• Siddhartha Art Gallery, Kathmandu, Nepal – The Sun Never Dies, Buddha Lights and Truth Shines
• Bilderwand Manufaktur (Culture House), Schorndorf, Germany
• Centrum Kultury 1 Jezyka NIemieckiego, Zielona Gora, Poland
• Culture Hall, Organized by Rotary Club, Halle, Belgium- The Sun Never Dies, Buddha Lights and Truth Shines
• Siddhartha Art Gallery, Kathmandu, Nepal – Time Wheel
• Academy of Fine Art and Literature, New Delhi, India Sponsored by Indian Council for Cultural Relations – Time Wheel
• 2006   ICCR Hall, Hyderabad, Sponsored by Indian Council for Cultural Relations – Time Wheel
• National Association of Fine Arts Gallery. Kathmandu, Nepal Inaugurated by Former Deputy Prime Minister KP Oli – People’s Power
• Majmua Art Gallery, Karachi Pakistan – Sound of Love
• 2007   Art Shop, Kathmandu, Nepal – Sound of Love
• Culture House (Manufaktur) Shorndorf, Germany – People’s Power
• Venetian Multiveral Academy, Vienna, Austria
• Siddhartha Art Gallery, Kathmandu, Nepal – Love in the Air
• Gallery Riddaren, Stockholm, Sweden – Love in the Air
• Siddhartha Art Gallery, Kathmandu, Nepal – Gaijatra Nepal
• Gallery 919, Karachi, Pakistan – Love in the Air
• Museum Art Gallery, Organized by The Gaekwad Art Foundation, Mumbai, India – Nature Speaks
• Solace International Designs, Kathmandu, Nepal – Nature Speaks
• Studio am Schloss, Berlin, Germany – Nature Speaks
• Saemmer, Teppicharchitektur, Munich, Germany
• Culture Council, Chaudfontaine, Belgium – Preserve Nature for Our Future
• 2014   Atelier I.S., Walhom, Belgium
• 2016   Wang Xiaohui Art Museum, Suzhou, China 2017   Xiao Hui Wang Art Space, Shangai, China.
• 2018   Atelier I.S., Walhorn, Belgium
• 2019   Exhibition Love revisited at Kathmandu Gallery, open by Ms. Veronica Cordy, Ambassador of European Union in Nepal

GROUP EXHIBITION:

• Nepal Association of Fine Arts (NAFA), Naxal, Kathmandu, Nepal
• Nepal Association of Fine Arts (NAFA), Naxal, Kathmandu, Nepal
• 1988   Nepal Association of Fine Arts (NAFA), Naxal, Kathmandu, Nepal
• 1999   Patan Museum, Lalitpur, Nepal, International Women Artists Exhibition – Women A Commitment

• Siddhartha Art Gallery, Kathmandu, Nepal – Made in Janakpur- A Mithila Yatra
• Siddhartha Art Gallery, Kathmandu, Nepal – Himalayan Expression 2003
• 2007   Art Shop, Kathmandu, Nepal, Organized by Women Artists Group of Nepal – Shakti
• Siddhartha Art Gallery, Kathmandu, Nepal, Sponsored by BP Koirala India-Nepal Foundation – Ek Raat
• Siddhartha Art Gallery, Kathmandu, Nepal
• 2008   Siddhartha Art Gallery, Kathmandu, Nepal, Double Vision Group Exhibition
• 2008   Imago Dei Cage Gallery, Gairidhara – WAGON Workshop
• 2010   Artist Proof, Lalitpur, Nepal – Contemporary Nepalese Printmakers
• 2010   Siddartha Art Gallery, Kathmandu, Nepal – Celebrating Line
• 2013   Artist Proof, Lalitpur, Nepal, Sponsored by BP Koirala India Nepal Foundation- Search for Ethics
• Park Gallery, Lalitpur, Nepal – Emergence of Nepali Modern Art 1960-80 AD
• Park Gallery, Lalitpur, Nepal, Sponsored by BP Koirala India-Nepal Foundation – BP Ko Samjhanama
• 2014   Imageark, Patan, Nepal – Paribartan Sochma: Understanding Gender
• 2017   Art for Nature, Gaidakot, Nepal, Organised by Kalawati Art Council.

INTERNATIONAL EXHIBITIONS:

• College of Arts and Crafts, Lucknow, India
• Birla Academy of Art and Culture, Calcutta, India
• 1980   Madras, India
• 1980   Srinagar, India
• Lalit Kala Academy, Lucknow, India
• International Biennial, Lubjiana (Ex-Yugoslavia)
• 1983   International Print Graphic Exhibition, New Delhi, India
• 1983   International Asian Biennial, Dhaka, Bangladesh
• 1986   British International Print Biennial, Cardwright Hall, Bradford, England
• 1988   Hananj Gallery, Tokoshima, Japan
• Arijiano, Italy
• Osaka Triennial, Japan
• Luxembourg
• 1992 Liège, Belgium

• Atelier I.S. Gallery, Eupen, Belgium
• Lahti Museaum, Lahti, Finland-Nepal Group Exhibition Aesthetics in Practice Conference
• Lahti University Hall, Lahti, Finland
• 2003   Habiart Gallery, New Delhi, India, Organized by Siddhartha Art Gallery – Himalayan Expression 2003
• Gallery Open Eye, Edinburgh, Scotland, UK – Double Vision Group Exhibition
• Jamshoro School of Art and Design Gallery, Pakistan
• Kunste Centrum, Haarlem, Holland – Double Vision Group Exhibition
• Siddartha Art Gallery, International Art Exhibition – Separating Myth from Reality Status of Women
• London, UK, Organized by Siddhartha Art Gallery
• Artistproof Gallery, Antwerp, Belgium – Double Vision Group Exhibition
• Gallery 6. Islamabad, Pakistan
• 2013  Satrang Gallery, Islamabad, Pakistan – Double Vision Group Exhibition
• 2012   Neerja Modi Art Centre, Jaipur, India
• 2012   Gorakhpur Fine Art Faculty, Gorakhpur, India
• 2014   Artistproof Gallery, Antwerp, Belgium – Exhibition 60/60 2017
• 2015   National Art Exhibition, NAFA, NEPAL
• 2016   National Art Exhibition, NAFA, NEPAL
• 2017   National Art Exhibition. NAFA, NEPAL
• 2017   Korea-Nepal International Art Exchange Exhibition, titled “Draw the Himalayas”, Korea
• 2018   National Art Exhibition, NAFA, NEPAL
• 2019   Group exhibition End of the Night at Newstead Railway Art Hubs Gallery, Newstead, Australia
• 2019   Group exhibition End of the Night at Mrs Harris‘s Shop, Adelaïde, Australia

 

ATTENDED WORKSHOPS:

2002   Dolakha, Nepal, Sponsored by Nepal Academy Organized by Lalit Kala Academy

2006   Hyderabad, India, SAARC Countries Artists Workshop on the Occasion of Golden Jubilee of Lalit Kala Academy

• Mandala, Organized by Women Artists Group of Nepal
• Jaisalmeir, Rajsthan, SAARC Countries Artists Workshop Organized by Indian Council for Cultural Relations and SEHER Organization
• Fine Art Faculty Hall, Benaras, India, with Indian Artists – Ek Raat organized by BPKF
• Nagpokhari, Kathmandu, Organized by Women Artists Group of Nepal – Shakti
• Darjeeling, India, Nepali Sahitya Sansthan, BP Ko Samjhanama organized by BPKF
• Nepal Art Council, Organized by Women Artists’ Group of Nepal to Support Flood Victims
• Maiti Nepal, Kathmandu
• Dhulikhel, Nepal, Search for Ethics Organized by Women Artists’ Group of Nepal (WAGON) Sponsored by BPKF

2012   Neerja Modi Art Centre, Jaipur, India International Art Workshop

2014   International Workshop, Dhampus, Nepal, Organized by Nepal Academy of Fine Arts

2016   International Workshop, Lumbini, Nepal, Organized by Nepal Academy of Fine Arts 2016   International Workshop, Janakpur, Nepal, Organized by B.P. Koirala Foundation, Nepal.

2016   Benares, India, Organized by Art beyond the border.

 

AWARDS:

1979   National Exhibition Prize, Nepal

1985   National Exhibition Prize, Nepal

1988   National Exhibition Prize, Nepal

1986   Kate and Robert Wilson Prize, Bradford, UK

2002   Birendra-Aishwarya Memorial Medal, Kathmandu, Nepal

2005   50 Most Influential Women of Nepal, The Boss, Kathmandu, Nepal

• Sankalp Samman, Sankalp Nepal Welfare Society, Kathmandu, Nepal
• Best Student Award in 100 Years of Lucknow College of Arts and Crafts, Lucknow

2013   Toran Kumari Kala Sanskriti Award, Kathmandu, Nepal

• Senior Artist Honour Award, Nepal Commercial Artist Association of Nepal, Kathmandu, Nepal
• Bhadra Kumari Sewa Sadan Award, Nepal

2016   Sahamati Award for social work, Nepal

2019   Honorary Life Membership of U.P. Art Circle, Lucknow, India.

2019   GLAPEB AWARDS  2019 Artist of the Year from Bharat Nirman Foundation, India

 

PRESENT OFFICIAL COLLECTIONS

Bradford Museum (The U.K.), Fukuoka Asian Art Museum (Japan), SAARC Building (Kathmandu, Nepal), Tribhuvan University

(Kathmandu, Nepal), Tribhuvan Airport (VVIP Room, Kathmandu, Nepal), Nepal Television Office (Kathmandu, Nepal),

Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Kathmandu, Nepal), Ministry of Culture (Kathmandu, Nepal), World Bank (Kathmandu, Nepal),

Danish Embassy (Kathmandu, Nepal), PM House (Kathmandu, Nepal), and other Government Offices (Kathmandu, Nepal), Fine Art Academy (Lucknow, India),  King Birendra Art Gallery Museum (Kathmandu, Nepal), World Bank Museum, Head Office, U.S.A., Culture Ministry, Beijing, China.

 

PRESENT PRIVATE COLLECTIONS:

Australia, Austria, Belgium, Canada, China, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Holland, India, Iran, Israel, Italy, Japan, Luxembourg, Malaysia, Nepal, Norway, Pakistan, Poland, Spain, Sweden, Taiwan, Sri Lanka, Switzerland, UK, USA

 

VISITED COUNTRIES:

Austria, Bangladesh, Belgium, Bhutan, Cambodia, China, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, India, Israel, Italy,     Japan,  Luxembourg, Malaysia, Netherlands, Pakistan, Philippines, Poland, Sweden, Switzerland, Taiwan, Thailand, UK, Vietnam.

 

SOCIAL ACTIVITIES

Founder and Former President of Women Artist Group of Nepal.

Board Member – B.P. Koirala Foundation

Board Member – Barbara Peace Foundation Founder and President of Shivata Love Foundation.