KATHMANDU

Veteran Paubha artist, Premman Chitrakar, also known as the guardian of Paubha painting, passed away at the age of 76 on Sunday. He had been undergoing treatment in the ICU of the National Hospital in Kalanki since Thursday. He was cremated at Pashupati Aryaghat on Sunday. He had been suffering from asthma for some time.

Born in December 1944 in Bhimsensthan, Kathmandu, Premman played a key role in the development and expansion of traditional Paubha painting. He was also involved in landscape, portrait, sculpture and modern art. He founded the association — Traditional Artists Association— in 2049 BS to expand and promote the traditional Paubha painting. "He founded it in 2049 BS with the aim of educating people from other communities as well, saying that artists alone cannot develop and expand this field," said Samundra Man Singh Shrestha, artist who is also a disciple of Premman. He said that they were able to assimilate painting as a profession because of him. "Today we have lost the guardians of Paubha painting," he said.

Kancha Kumar Karmacharya, the chancellor of Nepal Academy of Fine Arts, said that he was shocked by the news of the death of Veteran Paubha artist Premman through social media. "I pay my heartfelt tribute to my friend. I and the Nepal Academy of Fine Arts express my heartfelt condolences to the bereaved family,” he wrote. A statement issued by the foundation states, "He has made significant contributions to traditional painting and has enriched the Nepali painting world by producing many artists."

Lately, he has been teaching traditional painting to young artists. He was also a member of the Coin Design Committee of Nepal Rastra Bank and the President of the Traditional Artists Association. According to Ramesh Khanal, a scholar at the Nepal Academy of Fine Arts, he was an expert in traditional style painting. "He used to paint by focusing on the power of gods and goddesses reflecting the traditional style," Khanal said. By modifying traditional painting, he succeeded in passing on what he knew to the younger generation. Apart from painting, he has also published albums and books in Nepal Bhasa.

He is survived by his wife Vidya Tuladhar, two daughters Bhavana and Prerna and son Kichman Chitrakar.