Himalayan Art Festival 2025 Brings Together Creativity, Culture, and Modern Expression

 Kathmandu, August 14

The Himalayan Art Festival 2025 burst into life on August 8 at the Nepal Art Council in Babermahal, filling the space with colour, texture, and curiosity.

On the fifth day of the exhibition, an eight-year-old boy could hardly contain himself, exclaiming “Wow, wow, wow!” as he and his friends wandered between the paintings and sculptures. “I liked the rhino in the painting,” he said, pointing to a semi-abstract piece by senior artist Jeevan Rajopadhya.

Nearby, two girls studied a conceptual work by veteran artist Ragini Upadhyay, which showed a human-like water body tangled with trash. “The water must be drinking Pepsi and going shopping,” one giggled.

The mood shifted when they spotted the bold, vibrant prints of senior printmaker Seema Sharma Shah. They noticed the Rs 300,000 price tag, then compared it to Upadhyay’s painting priced at Rs 750,000. “There’s so much work here,” one said of Shah’s piece. “Why is that one more expensive?”

They soon learned the difference: printmaking allows for multiple copies, while a painting is one of a kind. Satisfied with the explanation, they ran off to explore the rest of the festival—proof that art can spark curiosity in even its youngest visitors.

More than an exhibition

This year’s festival features 120 contemporary Nepali artists and over 200 works, spread across all floors of the Nepal Art Council. Since its launch in 2017 by E-Arts Nepal and the Kasthamandap Artists Group, the festival has showcased paintings, paubha, sculptures, prints, installations, and ceramics.

The goal is to increase awareness and appreciation of Nepali contemporary art, encourage corporate investment, and give collectors a platform to explore local creativity. The program also includes art talks, children’s workshops, and the Prashanta Scholarship Award. Each year, a master artist is honoured—this year’s award went to senior artist and designer Shyam Das Ashanta for his decades of contribution to the art scene.

The week-long event was inaugurated by Shark Tank Nepal’s Anand Bagaria, along with Cabinet Shrestha, Hem Raj Dhakal, Ritu Singh Vaidya, and Saurabh Jyoti.

Inside the festival

Curators Sagar Manandhar and Pratima Thakali have arranged the works to flow in themes, colours, and rhythm—while still giving artists complete creative freedom. The themes range from memory, socio-economic issues, and political commentary to nature, culture, and the environment. Senior and emerging artists share space equally, making it a place for inspiration and learning.

Some highlights:

  • Bidhyaman Tamang’s “A Council of Frogs” – An etching that transforms his childhood Dashain memories into whimsical frog-filled scenes, inspired by the lively family gatherings of his youth.

  • Suresh Maharjan’s “Ekadeshma” – A silk print recalling his childhood fishing trips for Himalayan trout in the Bagmati River, symbolically brought to life through abstract fish forms.

  • Sundar Lama’s “Lotus Placenta” – A life-size acrylic painting blending a crow, lotus, baby, and waves to explore creation, coexistence, and nature.

  • Anil Shahi’s work – A warning against neglecting Nepal’s natural and cultural heritage, urging preservation before identity and existence fade away.

The Himalayan Art Festival 2025 runs until August 14, offering a rich blend of beauty, dialogue, and reflection—welcoming both seasoned collectors and curious children who ask the most unexpected questions.

If you want, I can also make a short, news-style 3-paragraph version of this so it’s easy to publish for a general audience. That would cut the length by about 70% while keeping the main flavour and key details.

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