Uma Shankar Shah
Uma Shankar Shah’s graphic works depict the images of nature and Hindu mythologies appealing for the preservation of natural and cultural heritage of Nepal. He incorporates the forms and contents of early Nepali religious and folk arts. In Shah’s early prints-etching, woodcuts, lithographs, etc,-we find the abstraction of nature in simplified form, dominated by the recurrent images of the gliding fishes in particular and life under water in general. Nevertheless, themes drawn from the realms of philosophy mythology and religion and folk culture also feature in them.
Uma Shankar Shah’s graphic works depict the images of nature and Hindu mythologies appealing for the preservation of natural and cultural heritage of Nepal. He incorporates the forms and contents of early Nepali religious and folk arts. In Shah’s early prints-etching, woodcuts, lithographs, etc,-we find the abstraction of nature in simplified form, dominated by the recurrent images of the gliding fishes in particular and life under water in general. Nevertheless, themes drawn from the realms of philosophy mythology and religion and folk culture also feature in them.
He is concerned about fast eroding spiritual values and ancient art works. He expresses his views regarding the religious traditions, and social practices, in the light of spiritual thought in the context of Kathmandu valley. He captures the images of Nepali architecture, and sculptures of various gods and goddesses, and the images of devotees worshipping the deities with various colours and flowers. His cityscapes are not realistic but imaginative. For the sake of beauty and variety, adds the new images of various architectures and combines them in exotic manner. The representation instantly dazzles the viewers and renews their perception. Rather than the significance of the form, the artist stresses the beauty of the form itself.
Uma Shankar Shah’s compositions also represent the image of meditating yogis seated on the earth-like round shape. The size and the proportion of the images are surrealist because the image of the earth is condensed whereas the figure of the yogis are amplified. The position of the earth as the seat of the yogi implies that the enlightened yogi has controlled the mundane desires of the world, and they are no longer important in his consciousness. When he is united with cosmic being he finds the world within himself. Despite the use of surrealist form, the artist reintegrates one of the themes of traditional Nepali arts, that is, the union of individual self with cosmic being through meditation.
Date of Birth: 1965
Place of Birth: Village Post, Loharpatti, Mohattari, Nepal
Education: L.C.M. (Laxmi Chandra Muhrarika) High School, Jaleshwar, Mohattari
B.F.A. in Painting (1988), Banaras Hindu University, India
M.F.A. in Painting (1991), Banaras Hindu University, India
Current Position : Associate Professor of Painting at Central Department of Fine Arts, Tribhuvan University, Kathmandu, Nepal
Solo Shows
2017 Inter-spiritual, New Delhi, India (Organized by Gallery Ganesha)
2016 Roti-Beti, Visual Arts Gallery India Habitat Center, Organized by Gallery Ganesha, New Delhi, India
2014 Sacred Spaces, Gallery Ganesha, Shreedharni Art Gallery, New Delhi, India
2013 Expressions of Devotion, Siddhartha Art Gallery, Kathmandu, Nepal
2012 A Unique Glimpse of Divinity, Lalitkala Academy, Ravindra Bhavan, New Delhi, India
2009 A Mystical Odyssey, Jahangir Art Gallery, Organized By Gaekwad Art Foundation, Mumbai, India
2007 Sangrilla, Juno Art Gallery, Degu City, South Korea
2006 Shanti Yagya, Siddhartha Art Gallery, Kathmandu, Nepal
2004 Glimpse of Kathmandu City, Park Gallery, Kathmandu, Nepal
2003 Print and Painting, Siddhartha Art Gallery, Kathmandu, Nepal
1999 Kathmandu Vintage, Siddhartha Art Gallery, Kathmandu, Nepal
1996 Exhibition of Paintings, J Art Gallery, Kathmandu, Nepal
1995 Exhibition of Etchings and Paintings, J Art Gallery, Kathmandu, Nepal
1994 Exhibition of Etchings and Paintings, J Art Gallery, Kathmandu, Nepal
1993 Graphics by Uma Shankar Shah, Siddhartha Art Gallery, Kathmandu Nepal
1992 Palpasa Gallery, Kathmandu, Nepal
1988 Janakpur Dham, Janakpur Cigarette Factory, Nepal
1984 Faculty of Visual Arts Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi, India
International Shows
Participated in more than 70 shows held nationally and internationally in Japan, Korea, USA, UK, the Netherlands, France, India, and Bangladesh
2020 India Art Fair, Exhibited with Gallery Ganesha, Delhi, India
2019 Nepal Art Show, Welt Museum, Vienna, Austria
2018 Evolutionary Tradition Asian Contemporary Print Art, Zhongli Art Museum, Sichuan Fine Arts Museum, Chongquing, China
2018 India Art Biennial, Lalitkala Academy, New Delhi, India
2018 Nepal Thailand Exhibition, Andaman Museum, Thailand
2018 India Art Fair, Gallery Ganesha, New Delhi, India
2014 India Art Fair, Gallery Ganesha, New Delhi, India
2014 Art Fest Doral, Miami, FL, USA
2013 Art Fest Doral, Miami, FL, USA
2013 India Art Fair, Gallery Ganesha, New Delhi, India
2006 7th Mondialde’lEstampeetde’l Gravure OriginaleTriennale de Chamalieres, France
2005 The 11th Triennale, India
2003 Bangladesh Biennial, Silpkala Academy, Bangladesh
2001 Asian Triennial, Bangladesh
1999 First Asian Art Triennial and Workshop, Asian Museum, Fukuoka, Japan
1992 Bangladesh Biennial, Silpkala Academy, Bangladesh
Group Shows
2018 Nepal Art Show, Standard Chartered Bank Headquarter, USA
2018 Prince Wales Museum, Kumar Swami Hall, Mumbai, India
2013 Chanting Icons, India Habitat Centre, New Delhi, India
2013 Visual Arts Gallery, New Delhi, India
2012 Visual Arts Gallery, New Delhi, India
2010 A Chronicle of Power, India Fine Arts Gallery, Film Centre Building, Mumbai, India
2008 Khulla Dhoka The Open Door Exhibition KCAC Nepalese and British Art, Royal Overseas League, London, UK
2006 Nepali Contemporary Art Festival, Alpha Art Gallery, Seoul, South Korea
2005 Nepal Art Show, Aichi Art Center, Nagoya, Japan
Awards
2013 First Prize in Miami Art Fest Doral, FL, USA
2014 First Prize in Miami Art Fest Doral, FL, USA
2018 Honorable Mention, 1st India Print Biennial, Lalitkala Academy, New Delhi, India
2019 First Prize in Xuyuan International Print Biennial, China
Workshop
1999 Asian Museum, Fukuoka, Japan
2018 Andaman Art Museum, Krabi, Thailand