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Nepali artist makes a mark at Lhasa’s Thangka art fest
Veteran Nepali painter of Paubha, Raj Prakash Tuladhar recently returned to Kathmandu from a four-day international Thangka festival in Lhasa, which he and seven other artists from across the region had attended at the behest of the organisers, China.Veteran Nepali painter of Paubha, Raj Prakash Tuladhar recently returned to Kathmandu from a four-day international Thangka festival in Lhasa, which he and seven other artists from across the region had attended at the behest of the organisers, China. Tuladhar was the sole artist representing Nepali Paubha painting at the event where he, apart from showcasing his works, also delivered a speech regarding Paubha, its history, progress, and prospects.
In his speech, Tuladhar spoke on the importance of such events in highlighting and revitalising the arts of the Himalayan region—even suggesting that a shared appreciation and engagement in art culture could cut across the volatile politics and bridge the politico-cultural gulf among the people here. Tuladhar had also stressed the importance of establishing new networks of artists and buyers and the crucial need for patronage from neighbouring nations for the flourishing of the arts in the region as a whole.
Of the over two thousand submissions from hundreds of artists, only 160 pieces by seven painters were chosen to be showcased at the event. In light of this, Tuladhar’s series of Paubha paintings, unique in the event, was lauded by foreign visitors and would-be-patrons. Due to the heightened exposure, his works have become emblematic of Kathmandu’s indigenous art in the Chinese market. Let us hope that Tuladhar’s exploits are only a start and that over time, more Nepali artists, young and old, are able to establish a foothold in this thriving market, far up north.