Works of art may elicit a sense of wonder or cynicism, hope or despair, adoration or spite; a work of art may be direct or complex, subtle or explicit, intelligible or obscure; the approach and understanding of the creation is bounded by only the artist and his imagination. Thus, it can be said there is no definitive art and it is all to do with imagination and perspective. 

Art for me is so much more than just expressing my thoughts and feelings - it is a refuge where I can escape all the complications and hardships of life. It contributes light and makes you feel as you are in another world where only your imagination and creativity exists, hopefully manifesting itself by its overpowering beauty. 

My journey into the world of Art began, according to my mum, when I was first able to hold a crayon, it may have just been scribble or a daft picture of an apple. But I was always fascinated with colors and how you can create something of your own on a piece of paper (and occasionally on walls). 

Getting annoyed while using white because it never left anything on paper had my mum convinced that I was in love with colors and it was something I would thrive on with later on in my life. Which brings me to the reason as to why I pursued art, the biggest driving force towards it has to be my family. 

Most of my family members have had an attachment with art; my aunt herself has taken up a career as an artist while simultaneously teaching children to appreciate its significance. Growing up with the same attachment, my formative years were imbued with an appreciation of the potency of art. 

With this in mind I am hoping to pursue a degree in the creative field and take up a career, which will allow me to express myself in an innovative manner. Ideally, I would love to flourish as a fine artist. Infusing Nepali culture with light is a project that I have been working on over the last year. The main reason behind this was to recognize how both of these aspects are essential to us as lighting or illumination is the deliberate use of light to achieve a practical or aesthetic effect. 

Culturally, it is also symbolic of various different things such as the Sun, the avenger of evil forces and darkness. Secondly, loss of culture is a big issue especially since the devastating earthquake of 2014, which resulted in huge devastation of our cultural treasures. 

My intention in the combination of light and Nepali culture was not only my aspiration to create an aesthetic painting, but also to capture the resilience of our culture eluded by light - symbolizing that it never fades.  

Inspiration, what inspires me? Living in Nepal is an inspiration in itself as you are surrounded by the intricate beauty in old architectures, the labyrinthine of wood work present on the windows and doors of old homes and temples, the ornamental stone or gold statues all over Kathmandu and the vivid street art which stimulate a rush of adrenaline every time you pass. Nepal is one of the most beautiful countries, and is filled with artistry - affording a vast array of inspiration for all. 

Shivani is currently studying A-levels at The British School, Kathmandu.