On the 21st instalment of the monthly discourse, titled Kalaka Kura, which was organised on Friday at Arpan Art Gallery, artist Gopal Kala Premi shared his experience of commiting his life to making art in eastern Nepal to the gathered audience. Organised by Society of Fine Arts Journalist (SOFAJ-Nepal), the series regularly takes place on the second Friday of every month.

Amid the gathered crowd of art critics and journalists, Kalapremi shared the ups and downs of living a life as an artist. In his beginning phase, Kalapremi’s works focused on traditional art, but with the influence of  artists such as Gahendra Man Amatya, Lain Singh Bangdel and Indra Pradhan, he changed his focus to modern art.   

He also discussed the role that the section office of Nepal Academy of Fine Arts (NAFA) played in promoting art since its inception in 1965. 

Similarly, he also praised Lalitkala Sangam’s contribution in making fine arts a staple consideration in eastern Nepal since 1970. Having served as an advisor for NAFA, Kalapremi said that the general public will not be aware of art unless art is taken forward in a commercial level. 

  He also lamented how recently the dissolving of art organisations has led to a void in the art-scene. “A lack of institutional support has stagnated the growth in the art scene,” Kalapremi remarked, “If the opportunity for  more workshops, art education, and interaction is not provided at a provincial level, then the art sphere will only be concentrated in the Capital.” 

The talk was moderated by artist and journalist Devendra Thumgeli.