KATHMANDU, May 14: A new chapter in Nepal’s cultural journey is set to unfold this week at Patan Museum as the Himalayan Art Council (HAC) inaugurates a groundbreaking exhibition dedicated to traditional Himalayan art and unveils a digital platform designed to preserve and promote Nepali artistic heritage for generations to come.
The Thangka & Paubha Art Exhibition, opening with a special reception on Thursday from 3:00 pm to 5:00 pm, brings together over 50 masterworks by some of Nepal’s most revered and emerging artists. The exhibition opens to the public on May 16, offering an immersive experience into the intricate world of Thangka and Paubha — sacred art forms that embody Nepal’s spiritual and cultural soul.
More than an art show, this initiative represents a wider movement to honor, protect, and elevate Nepali art. The Himalayan Art Council aims to give Nepal’s traditional art the recognition, structure, and support it needs in a rapidly changing world.
Alongside the exhibition, HAC will debut a National Art Protection Platform — an innovative digital initiative that uses AI and blockchain technology to authenticate artworks, combat counterfeiting, and ensure transparent provenance for collectors, scholars, and institutions.
Ninth National Art Exhibition in photographs
“This is about more than just showcasing beautiful art,” said artist Kailash K. Shrestha from the Himalayan Art Council. “It’s about protecting the legacy of Nepali artists, both past and present, and ensuring that their contributions are rightly seen, understood, and remembered.”
The platform offers tangible benefits for a wide range of stakeholders. For collectors and institutions, it provides the ability to track an artwork’s authenticity, value, and provenance across borders and generations through secure digital certificates. Artists gain vital protection with AI-powered tools that detect forgeries, identify unsigned work, and ensure they receive proper recognition and credit. Meanwhile, scholars and the general public can access rich, searchable archives, translated inscriptions, and interactive guides that reveal the deeper spiritual and historical meanings embedded in the art, according to Curator Meena Lama.
Sean Howell Co-founder of Farsight Labs, Dr. Nabin Khanal Senior Director Microsoft AI Azure, Nepal’s renowned IT entrepreneur Sanjib Raj Bhandari are also among those behind the digital initiative that uses AI and blockchain technology to authenticate artworks, combat counterfeiting, and ensure transparent provenance for collectors, scholars, and institutions.
The exhibition features over 50 original Thangka and Paubha masterpieces, showcasing sacred deities, mandalas, and rich storytelling through spiritual symbolism. It offers a curated journey that bridges the past and present, blending historic masterpieces with contemporary interpretations of traditional Himalayan art. Visitors will also have the rare opportunity to meet the artists themselves — the painters, storytellers, and cultural custodians who are keeping these sacred traditions alive and evolving.
The Himalayan Art Council is a cultural institution dedicated to the protection, promotion, and global recognition of Nepali and Himalayan art. Its work centers on creating a secure and vibrant ecosystem that supports artists, collectors, and cultural institutions through a combination of digital and physical certification systems, carefully curated international exhibitions, and reliable provenance tracking. By building trust and ensuring authenticity, the Council plays a critical role in preserving the integrity of Nepal’s artistic legacy.
At the heart of the Himalayan Art Council’s mission is storytelling— the sharing of the deeper meanings behind each artwork, from sacred symbols to cultural origins and historical traditions. The Council believes that art should not only be seen but truly understood and remembered, fostering deeper appreciation and connection across borders and generations.
The Himalayan Art Council has invited the public, press, cultural leaders and international guests to be part of this historic launch at Patan Museum in Lalitpur. The exhibition runs from May 15 to 17, 2025, with an opening reception scheduled for 3:00 pm to 5:00 pm on May 15.
