Marc Chagall at Patan Dhoka

KATHMANDU, Oct 28: Come November, Nepalis will get a rare opportunity to view works by one of the most successful 20th century French painters (born in Russia), Marc Chagall (1887–1985) in the capital city.

Entitled ‘Marc Chagall: The Magic of Colour,’ the exhibition is being put together by the Spinal Injury Rehabilitation Centre (SIRC) in Saanga, Kavre District, [break]with the help of Chagall’s granddaughter, Meret Meyer, who is one of the curators, along with Jürg Kunz. Both are from Bern, Switzerland.

“Meret is a friend of SIRC, and on a visit to the Center, she noticed a patient’s drawing of a flying man which reminded her of her grandfather’s (Chagall) works,” explained social worker Kumudini Shrestha, a board member of SIRC. “When she suggested an exhibition of Chagall’s posters in Nepal, we were thrilled,” she said, adding that the curators made sure the works arrived safely in Kathmandu.

Meyer and Kunz are expected to arrive two days ahead to prepare for the opening on Friday, November 12.

Of the 32 works, which will hang in the galleries of Yala Maya Kendra at Patan Dhoka, 20 are offset prints, and the rest are reproductions of Chagall’s lithographs. Spreading in three rooms, the exhibition will also have biography panels on the artist’s life in both Nepali and English.

“These offset prints are the main highlight of the exhibition because they are original posters of Chagall’s exhibitions,” shares Shrestha of the posters, a majority of which date to the 1970s.

While this surely is a treat for art lovers and students, the reproductions of lithographs are of no less importance. Lithography, a printmaking technique, is not practiced in Nepal as of yet and therefore, it introduces one to the medium.

All of the works are being donated to SIRC upon the completion of the weeklong exhibition that will be accompanied by discussions and lectures on the celebrated artist.

Journalist Kanak Mani Dixit, also a board member of SIRC, expressed, “It is important to have discussions both on the significance of poster art and Chagall’s contributions.”

SIRC plans to display the posters once a year at the Center in order to encourage art lovers, students and the general public to come to Saanga.

“The exhibition is free but we are publishing a catalogue specifically for the exhibition and that will be available for purchase,” pointed out Dixit.

The exhibition will remain open till November 21.