The artists worked continuously for fourteen hours to transform the walls clad with such slogans and replaced them with vigorous hopeful messages.[break]
The mural exhibition with the theme of “We Make the Nation” was, however, not completed on that day due to time and financial constraints.
But the sheer determination of the artistes was not broken as they gathered up again on June 4 to complete the remaining portions of the walls and give them a final touch. With the financial funding from Laxmi Cares for the paint, the mural painting is now completed.
Jointly organized by Artudio and Image School, a Facebook-based art and photography promoting platform, the exhibition was organized to present constructive ideas of the painters in order to promote peace and responsibility.
“We started with the street paint but we were running out of time and paint which is why the painting wasn’t completed on the very day. We were in a dilemma as how to complete our work,” says Kailash K Shrestha, a visual artist and the initiator of the event.
He added that a discussion was initiated on the Facebook page regarding the street art event and a member of Laxmi Cares had commented on the page saying that the Hotel Himalaya had also provided expenses for the event.
“But we weren’t funded by the hotel but had only got the authority to paint on their walls. So I mentioned that and then Laxmi Cares approached us to fund for the paint, which is how we continued the painting,” he added.
Along with the main theme, “We Make the Nation,” the exhibition also has vibrant paintings with positive messages like “Peace begins with a Smile, “Make Love, not War,” among others.
Talking about the idea behind painting with positive messages about the country, Kailash said that the idea of it was to spread positive messages.
“Newspapers are the basic component to inform the general people, and people tend to perceive according to the news it provides. So to enforce positive news flow, we painted.”
The students of Arts from Kathmandu University (KU), Artudio and school students also participated in the painting.
Rajeev Maharjan, a recent graduate from Brookfield School, shared that he participated in the event since he was always interested in art, and he feels that with an event like this, we get to show not only the creative aspects but also promote peace and positive things about our country.
With political slogans, pamphlets and posters littering the walls, such creative paintings are a welcome change and it makes the city come alive. It also acts as an open platform for raising awareness through art.
Kailash mentions Nepal is supposed to be rich in culture and art but many people are unaware of art and its beauty. So through such an open exhibition like this, he wants to start a movement and hopes that people will gradually learn to appreciate and understand art.
He mentions that he has also been getting positive feedback about the wall art. “At least, when people pass by this lane, they will get to see something positive, and I’m really happy that we transformed the shabby wall into something beautiful and constructive.”
Laxmi Cares has also approached the organizers to paint the wall at Hattisar with the theme of environment, and also the walls of the Bagmati Bridge.
“We won’t be stopping here as we have plans to paint other walls in the capital as well. It’s our responsibility to make the nation, and we as artists want to fulfill that responsibility through art,” Kailash added.
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