Originally from Lamjung, she moved to Kathmandu when she was three. Hearing impaired since the age of five, Namuna learnt Nepali sign language while attending Central Higher Secondary School for the Deaf in Naxal. Despite being a good student academically, it was drawing that she really enjoyed. Drawing, she explains, helped her understand emotions. When she moved to the UK with her family in 2007, she got the opportunity to visit art galleries and museums which were full of inspirations. They also introduced her to a world of creativity and expressions. “Art has helped me connect and communicate with others through various ways,” she says. She also found it easier than learning the English language.[break]
Photos Credit: Namuna Shahi
This art student visits galleries as part of her research to continue exploring and stirring the art in her soul.
She claims she likes changing her themes as there’s so much to learn each day and trying out different themes makes her understand the different dynamics and aspects of art. Yet, nature and animals are the most recurring of her themes and she uses them as the primary focus of her work. Nature’s limitless potentiality is what makes it a fascinating subject while her works concerning animals are opportunities to describe them through her art. Working as a volunteer during children’s trips to the zoo gave her the chance to see different animals. She’s experimented with acrylic and oil colors but prefers working with acrylic. She finds that acrylic gives a very powerful representation of colors and thus her art.
Studying art in the UK has its advantages, she agrees. “I didn’t know a great deal about art when I was in Nepal. There are also far less art galleries there. Living in the UK provided me with the opportunity to pursue my interest. There’s also a good prospect to study further in art here. I believe there were limited choices regarding what I could do in Nepal.”
English is still difficult for her to understand, thus, Namuna faces academic problems. The most difficult thing for her, is to be able to understand and grasp the theories of art. She says, “I have to read about those theories several times so that I’m able to understand it properly.”
Creating and working on something is only one aspect of work. Every artist needs to show his work so that he is able to learn from his mistakes and also bask in the appreciation. Namuna has participated in three group exhibitions, and speaking through her experiences she states that such exhibitions are very helpful in showing and promoting the works of artists. It is through the exhibitions that art lovers come across a variety of artists and learn about their works.
The passionate artist that she is, there’s no limit to what she can achieve, she believes. As she confidently explains, “There are no limits to anything for me as I keep trying until I manage to create things as I want them.”
As someone who considers art a permanent and natural element in her life, it’s expected that she will want to work in the field. “Art is a part of my life,” Namuna says, “I like what I get to do through art and because I want to share my knowledge, I’m looking forward to teach art in a deaf school.”
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