Sagar Manandhar
In Sagar Manandhar’s paintings, forms and colours are their own significances. The images are not references and representations to the objects, events and the people of the world. In other word, one can not take an image in the canvas and link to the recognizable thing of the external reality. They are rather the intuitive flow of colours and lines toward the unknown direction. Nevertheless, the images and coloured shapes have the proximity to the objects and things of our imagination and the unknown entities of the world. The works lead us to the zone where we have not traveled, and to the things which we have considered insignificant. In other words, they appeal to observe ourselves.
In Sagar Manandhar’s paintings, forms and colours are their own significances. The images are not references and representations to the objects, events and the people of the world. In other word, one can not take an image in the canvas and link to the recognizable thing of the external reality. They are rather the intuitive flow of colours and lines toward the unknown direction. Nevertheless, the images and coloured shapes have the proximity to the objects and things of our imagination and the unknown entities of the world. The works lead us to the zone where we have not traveled, and to the things which we have considered insignificant. In other words, they appeal to observe ourselves.
In a sense Sagar’s process, actions and images are quite natural, for we have seen many things in the world but have not given distinct shapes and names to them by our language and culture. Sagar goes beyond the defined things and invents new ones. Of course, his works are the voyage to the virgin land. We know in our journey to the new land, we see new shapes, images, objects, places and people, and we feel naturally excited without bothering their meanings and significances. But they click to our imagination and aesthetic experience. That is the end of that.
However, the consistent viewing of the paintings, reveals one or the other recognizable images in open-ended and plural manner. The unending road approaches to the horizon signifying the journey to infinity, the pristine meadows and lush lawns expand on the both sides of the rural cottages signifying primitive settlement. Likewise, the eternal ebbs and flows strike the seashore to the infinity. The dream landscape of yellow soil appears and disappears. All these bizarre scenes persist for the moment and in next view, they seem to have melted like the snow into other shapes and forms. Thus, Sagar’s paintings remain forever new.
There are innumerable shapes and images in the canvas. But rectangle and triangle are recurrent. Moreover, the triangles are more assertive, focused, centered and cherished in some of his canvas giving organization to the overall structure. Why is so? We can never know the artist’s unconscious intention and desire but we can always interpret on the basis of our experience and imagination. The triangle represents the prakriti, female principle, the vulva and the source of creation.
We do not know where the line leads, where it takes rest, ascends up and again descends down. This is the spontaneous play with colours, lines and brush strokes. It is the record of the creative process, the unplanned and adventurous journey to the new land. Sagar has not painted the complete vision what he has identified in his mind, it is the search and voyage for constructing vision. It is not the presentation of achieved experience but the experience on process. As the forms are plural, open-ended and ever changing, their significances are provisional and ever shifting. Thus the forms remain ever new.
Date of Birth: 27th July 1985
Parents: Mr. Kiran Manandhar & Mrs. Sarita Manandhar
Education
2010 Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi, India
Faculty of Visual Arts
M.F.A (Master in Fine arts), Painting, Gold Medal
2008 Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi, India
Faculty of Visual Arts
B.F.A (Bachelor in Fine Arts), Painting, Gold Medal
2004 Sirjana College of Fine Arts
I.F.A (Intermediate in Fine Arts)
2002 Gyanodaya Bal Batika Higher Secondary Boarding School
S.L.C (School Leaving Certificate)
Teaching Experiences:
2018 – Present Assistant Professor
Kathmandu University, School of Arts, Centre for Art and Design
Hattiban, Lalitpur.
2011 – 2018 Lecturer
Kathmandu University, School of Arts, Centre for Art and Design
Hattiban, Lalitpur.
2010- 2011 Visiting Faculty
Kathmandu University, School of Arts, Centre for Art and Design
Mandhikatar, Kathmandu.
2010 (Dec 5 – July 19) Tutor
Tribhuvan University, Lalitkala Campus, Bhotahiti, Kathmandu.
Selected Awards
2011 National Fine Art Award in Contemporary Painting -National Fine Arts Exhibition.
2010 Special Award in Annual Art Exhibition,BHU, Faculty of Visual Arts, Varanasi, India
2005 First Prize in Annual Art Exhibition, BHU, Faculty of Visual Arts, Varanasi, India
2002 Designed the Flag of Kathmandu Metropolitan City
Solo Exhibitions
2020 Asta Roopa, Dalai La Boutique Hotel, Thamel, Kathmandu.
2019 Sanskriti, GG Machaan, Pulchowk, Lalitpur, Nepal.
2018 Khet ka Kathaharu, Aageno The Hestia, Bhanimandal, Kathmandu, Nepal.
2015 Sanrachana- Constructive forms, Nepal Art council, Kathmandu, Nepal
2013 Utsav- the celebration of festivals, Siddhartha Art Gallery, Babermahal, Kathmandu.
2012 Tatva – the Expression with Elements, Nepal Art Council, Kathmandu, Nepal
2011 Grahan – An Eclipse , Park Gallery, Centre for Fine Arts, Pulchowk, Nepal
2010 Voyage – An Endless Journey, Nepal Art Council, Kathmandu, Nepal.
2009 Synchronization 2009, Gallery of Visual Arts, BHU, Varanasi, India
2008 Seasons, ‘ Q’ Art Gallery Baryo Fiesta, Naxal.
2007 Figurative Expression, NAFA, Naxal.
2006 Reflected Realities, NAFA, Naxal.
2005 Paintings in my Eyes, Buddha Art Gallery, Thamel, Nepal
2004 Music – Lumbini Art Gallery, NAFA, Nepal
2002 My Moon for Peace -Sirjana Contemporary Art Gallery, Kathmandu, Nepal
Group Exhibitions
2019 Dragon Modern Art Center, Shanghai, China
2019 France – Nepal Painting Exhibition, Alliance Francaise, Kathmandu, Nepal.
2018 Reminiscence, Classic Gallery, Chakupat, Lalitpur, Nepal.
2018 China-South Asia Art Exchange Exhibition, Kunming, China.
2018 Himalayan Art Festival, Nepal Art Council, Kathmandu.
2018 Amalgam 2018, Siddhartha Art Gallery, Babermahal, Kathmandu.
2018 Nepal- Thailand Art Workshop and Exhibition, Andaman Culture Center, Krabi, Thailand.
2017 Shanghai International Exchange and Workshop, Hongqiao Contemporary Art Museum, Shanghai
2017 Himalayan Art Exhibition, Nepal Art Council, Kathmandu, Nepal
2016 Two Man Show entitled BHAIRAV, Nepal Art council, Nepal.
2016 “ 23 eme Salon International Arts & Peinture De Bourges, France.
2016 “Solidarity”, Alliance Francaise, Kathmandu, Nepal.
2015 ‘Yogyakarta Art Festival’, Jogya National Museum, Jogya, Indonesia.
2015 ‘Varanasi Connection’, Siddhartha Art Gallery.
2014 ‘Amalgam’, Siddhartha Art Gallery.
2014 Exhibition on the occasion of Centenary (2013/2014) of Nepal’s great poet Siddhi Charan Shrestha
2014 SAARC Artist’s Exhibition, Silpakala Academy, Dhaka, Bangladesh
2013 Contemporary Paintings Exhibition, Paris, France.
2013 The contemporary Paintings of Nepal, Espace Virgine, 86 bis avenue Aleide Gabaret, France
2013 “Miteri ko lagi Kala”, Organized by NAFA, Araniko Gallery, NAFA.
2012 Kathmandu International Art Festival (KIAF), Kathmandu, Nepal
2012 Nepali Contemporary Art Show-Europe – 2012, Salle Epicea Galleria Briancon, France
2012 Nepali Contemporary Art Show, E-Funktion, Cologne, Germany
2012 Nepali Contemporary Art Show, Chautara Gallery, Almere, Netherland
2012 Friendship across the Himalayas: China- Nepal, Beijing, China
2012 Amalgam – Siddhartha Art Gallery, Baber Mahal Revisted, Kathmandu
2012 Redefining Kathmandu Valley LASAANA, Kathmandu
2011 Ceramic Sculpture – Siddhartha Art Gallery, Baber Mahal Revisted, Kathmandu.
2010 Yogdan, Fusion Studio, Sagarmatha Complex, Kathmandu, Nepal.
2009 The Indian Experience in a Global Nest”, Faculty of Visual Arts, BHU, Varanasi.
2008 Sublime Expression Edition 2, Goa, India.
2008 Rupa- Pratirupa, Faculty of Visual Arts, BHU, Varanasi, India
2008 Sublime Expression Edition 1,Pune, India.
2008 Annual Exhibition of Faculty of Visual Arts, BHU, Varanasi, India
2008 Dristrikona, Faculty of Visual Arts, BHU, Varanasi, India
2007 Dristrikona, Lalitkala Center, Lucknow, India
2006 Annual Exhibition of Faculty of Visual Arts, BHU, Varanasi, India
2005 Group Exhibition at Ashi Ghat, Varanasi, India
2005 Group Exhibition Toolika BHU, Varanasi, India
2005 Group Exhibition organized by Young Artist Group, Varanasi
2005 Annual Exhibition Faculty of Visual Arts, BHU, Varanasi, India
2004 Group Exhibition on the occasion of 50 years of Manandhar Sangh, NAFA, Nepal
2004 Group Exhibition, Tilganga Eye Hospital, Kathmandu, Nepal.
2004 Group Exhibition,NAFA, Naxal, Kathmandu, Nepal
2003 3rd Juddhakala Painting Exhibition, Kathmandu,Nepal
2003 National Exhibition, NAFA, Kathmandu
2003 Group Exhibition, Calcutta, India (Camlin Art Foundation)
2002 National Art Exhibition, Kathmandu, Nepal
2002 Cartoon Exhibition organized by Artist Society of Nepal (ASON).
2002 Cartoon Exhibition at Royal Nepal Academy on the occasion of Gai Jatra, Nepal
2001 Two-man show titled : A Message of Peace
Workshop and Residencies
2019 Shanghai Internatinal Exchange and Workshop, Shanghai, China.
2019 Experiential Boot Camp, A Lab Based Teaching methodologies organized by KU, School
of Management at Greenwich Village, Sanepa from 8th April to 11th April, 2019)
2018 International Day of the Victims of Enforced Disappearance, Mandala Theater, Kathmandu.
2018 Nepal- Thailand Art Workshop and Exhibition, Andaman Culture Center, Krabi, Thailand.
2018 Himmaut Khanda Kala Sahitya Sammilan 2075, Chandragiri, Kathmandu.
2018 First South Asian Art Camp Nepal – 2018, Summit Hotel, Kathmandu.
2018 Collaboration of Artist and Poet, Workshop organized by Nepal Academy, Kamaladi, Kathmandu
2018 Painting Workshop organized by Paurakhi Nepal, Maharajung on the ocassion of International Domestic worker.
2018 Painting Workshop organized by National Trust for National Conservation (NTNC), Central Zoo, Jawalakhel.
2017 Shanghai International Exchange and Workshop, Hongqiao Contemporary Art Museum, Shanghai
2015 ‘Five day workshop Yogyakarta Art Festival’, Jogya National Museum, Jogya, Indonesia.
2013 One day Painting workshop organized by Prakriti Sanrachan Kosh, Nepal.
2013 “Miteri ko lagi kala”, two day camp at Dhampus, Pokhara, organized by Nepal Academy of Fine Arts and J.K. Museum, Pokhara
2012 Workshop organized by Bhaktapur Udhyog Banijya Sangh, Bhaktapur, Nepal
2012 Residency at LASAANA “Redefining Kathmandu Valley”, Kathmandu, Nepal
2011 Residency at Panjim, Goa in the studio of Artist Quirozito D’ Souza organized by Indian Atelier, India
2010 Workshop PEACE , organized by Royal Norwegian Embassy Bhaishepati, Kathmandu, Nepal
2010 Workshop Yogdan – organized by Fusion Studio, Sagarmatha Complex, Kathmandu, Nepal.
2010 Workshop Sadbhav- organized by NAFA, Naxal, Kathmandu, Nepal.
2010 Workshop organized by Nepal Art Council, Nepal.
2010 Workshop organized by Ram Chatpar Shilpanyas, SamneGhat, Varanasi, India
2009 Workshop Last Mile Polio Eradication Initiative organized by National Innovative IEC Design, Manesar, Haryana, India
2009 SAMHITA – National Level Seminar cum Workshop, College of Art, New Delhi, India
2009 Creative Eyes – Tilganga Eye Centre, Nepal
2008 Painting Restoration Workshop, jointly organized by The Indian Cultural Center, Embassy of India and Sirjana College of Fine Arts, Kathmandu
2007 Workshop in Kashi Vidyapith, Varanasi, India
2007 Workshop Inspiration Manaslu 2007 in Samagaun, Manaslu, Nepal
2006 Workshop to help the family of deceased in Janaandolan 2, Gurukul, Dillibazar, Nepal
2006 Workshop to help the victims of Janaandolan 2, Gongabun, Kathmandu, Nepal
2006 Workshop on the occasion of Buddha Purnima at Swoyambhu, Nepal
2005 Workshop organized in Lubhoo by theCreativity Club, Nepal
2005 Awareness Campaign and ITAV, and Buddhanilkantha School, Nepal
2004 Workshop Gift of Sight – organized by Tilganga Eye Center, Kathmandu, Nepal
2004 Youth Workshop organized by NAFA, Nepal
2003 Workshop organized by Sirjana College of Fine Arts, Nepal
2003 Workshop organized on the occasion of International Day of Peace, Nepal
2003 Post Card workshop organized by Sirjana College of Fine Art, Nepal
2002 Postcard workshop organized by Sirjana College of Fine Art, Nepal
2001 Workshop organized by Artists’ Society of Nepal (ASON), Nepal
2001 Workshop jointly organized by ASON and Pokhreli Sanskritik Parivaar – Pokhara, Nepal
