Artudio, a design studio started by students of Kathmandu University, those that have come up with a new initiative to re-paint the walls of Kathmandu. [break]
Kailash Shrestha, visual artist and initiator of Artudio refers to this trend as ‘reclaiming the city.’ Shrestha said, “Everywhere you look there are political slogans or posters, we thought, we’d give the place a new look. People are tired and frustrated seeing the same things. We just wanted to bring some flavor—a change.”
The Artudio group started this chain of painting walls with their notion of, ‘We Make the Nation.’ For them, it is a way of reminding the other of their responsibilities.
Without having to call strikes or protests, without slogans and posters, they feel that they are doing their jobs. As a painter, he feels that by painting walls he is working and creating awareness at the same time.
The idea of street art struck Shrestha on a casual day. “The walls of the city are dirtied and dull, they have become just like our country—they are fading. So I thought, why not splash some colors onto them?” he said.
Summet Shakya, from Artudio and an active participant of Artudio opined, “When Kailash told me about the idea, I was thrilled! I told him to start painting right away and offered to take pictures.”
In the beginning, the group faced difficulties while looking for sponsors. When they first started painting outside Hotel Himalaya, the work in between was obstructed due to lack of funds.
However, Laxmi Care, the staff of Laxmi Bank, decided to fund Artudio and they continued. “When Kailash began painting, people asked questions like what he was doing when they could see that he was painting but they are co-operating now,” informed Shakya.
The theme this time is related to environment and pollution. They have decided to do something different rather than depict usual pictures of tress and mother earth.
The group has painted fish flying in the clouds. “The messages we are trying send out is that all fish are going in the same direction—we want to depict unity that our political figures should learn. And of course, the fish aren’t in the water since it’s too polluted to live in.”
Schools view art as only a medium of ‘competition’ now-a-days and Artudio wants to change that perspective. “Art is a medium to express your thoughts—just like music or books. School children are encouraged to join us at our events,” he further said.
Sabina Shrestha, a technician working at Mercantile was present with her family. Her sixteen month old son seemed to enjoy holding a brush and was trying to paint.
“Even a child likes the idea of what Artudio is doing, why not us? So we came down to help” said Nirvik Pradhan, manager at Gorkha Brewery, also present at the event.
The next wall to be art-attacked is yet undecided but Artudio is defenetly trying to build the nation with paint and brushes!
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