Exhibiting Nepali Modernism: the 70s–90s

Nepal’s Art History Discussion Series
Initiated by Kathmandu Triennale 2020
Exhibiting Nepali Modernism: the 70s–90s
Batsa Gopal Vaidya, Krishna Manandhar, Shashi Bikram Shah & Subhadra Pradhan

In conversation with Priyankar Bahadur Chand

Moderated by Sheelasha Rajbhandari and Hit Man Gurung

5 December 2019/१९ मंसिर २०७६ (बिहिबार, दिउँसो ३ बजे)
Martin Chautari Seminar Hall, Thapathali, Kathmandu

SKIB-71 is regarded as the first modern art collective in Nepal. Established in 1971 the group organized exhibitions almost annually for two decades. “SKIB” is an acronym, each letter standing for the names of the artists: Shashi Bikram Shah, Krishna Manandhar, Indra Pradhan, and Batsa Gopal Vaidya. In the 60s, all four of them were educated in the Sir J.J. School of Arts in Bombay, and returned to Nepal to a fledgling modern art scene. Unfortunately, Indra Pradhan passed away in 1994 and the group’s vitality was never the same again; the last proper exhibition was held in 1995. Nevertheless, members of SKIB-71 became stalwarts in introducing modernism to Nepal and continue to contribute to the art movement not only as artists, but also as educators. This talk while rooting itself in the personal archives of the artists aims to extrapolate on larger themes of importance for the trajectory of modern Nepali art: the influence of an education in India; the role of the monarchy in promoting the arts; the rise modernity across painting, literature, dance, and music; and the nature of working in a collective.