With all of these, there will also be controversies, backbiting, resentments amongst artists, attitude problems, ego issues and the resultant ensuing problems.
In fact, these have already begun. The only thing is that this is going to harm the overall development of arts in Nepal.
We already are a small community, and if we want reforms in 2012 or in the years to come, it should begin from each artist, and more so from leaders in the arts community.
Like in every other field, bringing about growth and positive changes in the arts is a slow and challenging process.
Some of these steps of reformation are already in process while some need to consider taking them up seriously.
For one, it is the Nepal Academy of Fine Arts (NAFA) that should step up now for their 2nd National Fine Arts Exhibition.
This year, NAFA’s National Fine Arts Exhibition was akin to a bazaar. Paintings were hanging in makeshift corridor galleries and on staircases.
Sculptures and handicrafts were lying on the floor. Some works were installed in random corners. Artists complained about their works being neglected and disrespected.
The excuses NAFA gave for its flea market presentation and cluttered exhibits were lack of time and the large number of works they had received.
Time constraint was an invalid reason since they had months to plan and execute the event. It should be embarrassing for NAFA to give such lame excuses.
Yet, if they still want to improve the standards for real in 2012, they should be working for its timely and proper organization from right now.
The building where NAFA is housed in is not a space designed for exhibitions but infrastructural in construction and so design alterations can be made to improve its halls. Better lighting systems can be installed and the walls could do with some proper maintenance.
Questions were raised not just on the standard of the execution of the national exhibition but also on the quality and quantity of works.
The bigger reform NAFA therefore needs to introduce is a fair and standard process for selecting entries from artists, and more importantly, an unbiased and independent jury to declare the winners.
The Chancellor’s son recently winning one of the grand prizes was quite controversial and selection committee members themselves receiving awards was ridiculous, to say the least.
A working committee in NAFA should prepare applications, screen applications and make final selections. The critical contents of the works and its execution should be given priority and not the seniority of artists.
The selection panel and jury should be able to view these works objectively and independent of their personal relationships with particular artists.
The national exhibition should have recent and never-been-shown-before artworks. Instead, very few had made efforts to produce anything new.
Some artworks were many years old and some had been shown at several other exhibitions before.
NAFA should be able to maintain standards, outline rules and challenge artists to come par to that level. Artists, by themselves, should also take the exhibition as an opportunity to show new creations rather than submitting old works.
Yes, inclusion is the key and the opportunity to be part of the national exhibition should be given to all.
However, there also has to be a standard of artworks that are showcased at a “national-level” exhibition, and for those who get to participate, the chance should be an achievement.
Applications with a fair selection process and an independent jury should be introduced by NAFA if they want to have a real National Fine Arts Exhibition.
The challenge does not end there, though. Application systems, although a change for the better, will bring about other obstacles, and the Kathmandu International Art Festival (KIAF) is already dealing with some of those criteria.
These are more to do with individual differences and ego problems, which should really be kept at arm’s length.
The idea of submitting a concept paper and filling out application forms in order to be considered to participate in the Festival is new to Nepali artists. It is intimidating to many that their works will go under a scanner and only some 15 artists will be selected from Nepal.
However, painters who see this as an opportunity to showcase their works alongside 50 international artists will definitely work hard to develop a strong concept.
The application system makes the Festival open to all interested artists, national and international, and everyone is required to fill out the form.
Unfortunately, some Nepali artists have taken the application process as an insult because they feel that their works should not be judged by anyone.
Recently, a rumor that the Festival has already picked 15 Nepali artists spread in the artist community when, in fact, applications close a month from now, on January 31, 2012. Artists have come up to the organizers to ask if it was true. And certainly, the rumors are false.
Take, for example, Film South Asia, Kathmandu International Mountain Film Festival, and even the Mega Bank Photo Competition 067 – the latter hosted its first competition early this year.
All of these have an application procedure, a selection or a jury panel. Why can’t NAFA employ a similar fair system? And why is it a problem when KIAF is actually beginning to use an application system?
It is high time that Nepali artists came around from such negative attitudes and NAFA actually took the lead to implement a standardized system.
If I was expecting NAFA to prove themselves in 2011, I still am hoping for the same in 2012 and probably will hope for the same in 2013, too.
They are, after all, the only government-funded national-level arts organization, and if they want to, they have the potential to do so much more for Nepali arts.
Burathoki is the contributing Arts Editor for The Week.
Related story
Very few docs applied when health ministry sought applications...
