Contemporary Nepali Paintings: A Study of its Forms

Abstract

Contemporary Nepali paintings are characterized by experimentation and application of unfamiliar forms; nevertheless, such novelty in formal properties is not meant for ‘hollowing out’ the contents. Rather most of the artists make their exploration and experimentation over the traditional motifs and socio-cultural idioms: contents are, therefore, renewed with artistic and aesthetic flavors. In this vain, unlike the western modern trend that has been oriented to the ethos of eroding out the burden of content to establish the independence of formal properties; the contemporary Nepali artists have dominantly adopted the formal properties as tools to experiment and explore the contents. Such unconventional, unusual, and innovative methods and techniques demand a prolonged attention to go through the formal properties, and this process renews the viewer’s perception.