The imagination of a ‘New Nepal’ often makes its rounds in popular discourse, but what should it look like? A host of artists have now tried to seek the answers to that question through paintings. The paintings, based on the artists’ conception of a ‘New Nepal’, are currently on display at Nepal Art Council in the Capital. The exhibit features works by a total of 32 artists—20 artists and a dozen student-artists, pursuing a fine arts degree at Lalitkala Campus.

The exhibit—organised jointly by Lalitkala Campus, Bhotahity, and National Planning Commission—was inaugurated by chancellor of Nepal Academy of Fine Arts (NAFA) Ragini Upadhyay and vice-chair of National Planning Commission (NPC), Dr Min Bahadur Shrestha.

Speaking at the event, Shrestha said that art should imagine a prosperous Nepal. “Art plays a vital role in propagating awareness and energy among the public. Art can imagine and show the way towards a Nepal we all dream of,” Shrestha added.

Chancellor of NAFA Upadhyay said, “If there is one thing that Nepali art has done that has made us proud, is that it is spreading awareness about our cultural identity and shared heritage.” Upadhyay also appealed the NPC to pay attention to the needs of the art sector, “since it plays a key role in propelling the society towards development.”

Meanwhile, critic Madan Chitrakar dubbed the exhibit “a historic event.” “Looking at the imaginative spectrum the featured artists represent, one has to say it is a historic  event,” Chitrakar went on, “The exhibit features artists with plenty of promise, who will one day go on to change the face of Nepali art scene.”

The featured works touch upon a myriad issues such as environment conservation, education, infrastructure, poverty, global warming, among others.

The exhibit will run till Thursday, July 13.