"Moments of Passion” Exhibition of 3rd Solo Collage paintings
Mr. Ramesh Khanal, Chairman of Fine Art Crictics Society and Celebrated Artist has kindly consented to inaugurate the exhibition on Sunday 6 May, 2007 at 5:30 P.M.
Venue : The Art Shop, Durbarmarg, Opposite to Investment Bank
Date : 6 May - 15 May 2007, 11am - 6pm daily

The 3rd Solo Exhibition of Collage Paintings by Gaurav Shrestha was inaugurated at The Art Shop on Durbar Marg by the chairman of the Fine Art Critics Society, Ramesh Khanal. Gaurav says that giving life to waste materials through his collages gives him a lot of pleasure as well as the freedom to express himself in an unique way.

Comprising of works done from 2002 to the current year, it is obvious to the keen observer that Gaurav seems to have had a most promising start in 2002 with interesting and well balanced canvases like 'Blast', a playful sort of work, and collages created from paper cuttings like 'Thinker' and 'Harsh Emergence'. Collages from 2005 like 'God's eye view', 'Coming back to Life', 'Where the River Flows' and 'The Road Map to Peace', with 'Stuck in Transition' especially outstanding due to its creative rendering in dark blue and crimson. 'Swayambhu in veil of Mist' (2006) as well as 'This side of Paradise' and 'Blanket of Rays' from his 2007 collection seemed to have similarly executed themes while 'The Reflection of Time' (2007), was one of his larger experimentations on cardboard.

रमझमदेखि युद्धबाट शान्तितर्फको यात्रा जस्ता विविध विषयमा बनाइएका गौरव श्रेष्ठको चित्रहरूको पनि छुट्टै विशेषता छ। उनी साधारण क्यानभासमा नभएर कार्डबोर्डमा चित्र कोर्छन् भने पुराना पत्रिका, भित्तेपात्रो आदिका टुक्राटुक्री टाँसेर नयाँ रुप दिन्छन्।

चित्रकलामा रङको प्रमुख भूमिका हुने भए पनि उनको काममा रङभन्दा अरू सामग्री महत्त्वपूर्ण हुन्छन्। कोलाज पेन्टिङमा विगत आठ वर्षदेखि काम गरिरहेका गौरव भन्छन्, “नगरपालिकाले गर्ने काम मैले गरिरहेको छु। पुराना खेर जाने सामानबाट राम्रो सिर्जना हुन्छ भने किन प्रयोग नगर्ने?” गौरवका अनुसार कोलाज पेन्टिङमा झञ्झट धेरै हुन्छ, त्यसैले यसका लागि धेरै धैर्य चाहिन्छ।

२३ वैशाखदेखि १ जेठसम्म गौरवका मोमेन्ट्स अफ प्यासन शृङ्खलाका चित्रहरू दरबारमार्गको द आर्ट शपमा प्रदर्शनीमा राखिएका छन्। प्रदर्शनीबाट राम्रो प्रतिक्रिया पाइरहेका गौरव भन्छन्, “साधारण दर्शक पनि आर्टसम्बन्धी चासो राख्ने भइसक्यो त्यसैले पेन्टिङ बेच्न विदेशीमै भर पर्नुपर्ने अवस्था छैन।” गौरवका चित्रहरूको मूल्य ३५ सयदेखि १७ हजारसम्मका छन्।

चित्रमा परेको मेहनत वा समय भन्दा पनि आफूलाई मन परेको चित्रको मोल बढी तोक्ने गरेको उनी बताउँछन्। प्रदर्शनीका चित्रहरू रिएलिसम, मोर्डन, अब्स्ट्रयाक्ट, सेमी अब्स्ट्रयाक्ट जस्ता विभिन्न विधाका छन्। पेशाले फन्ट डिजाइनर गौरव भन्छन्, “म कलाको कुनै वादमा बाँधिएर बस्दिनँ। मेरा चित्रले जुन फर्म पनि लिन सक्छन्।”

Stuck in Transition
Collector : Prabha Amatya
Kantipur Television

That Nepal is rich in art, culture and natural heritage is a well-known fact. One can experience the charm and beauty of Nepali art and culture through an important means of paintings.

With a view to present beautiful landscapes, culture and contemporary issues for the audience, artist Gaurav Shrestha has put on a total of 20 canvases in exhibition in The Art Shop. Almost all of his paintings portray the beautiful landscapes, cultural background that provides an insight on the Nepal’s contemporary issues.

The exhibition displays a collection of few collages ranging from the year 2002 to 2007 with the theme “Moments of Passion”. The collages have diverse styles and techniques.

The price of each paintings ranges from Rs. 3,500 to 17,500. Four of his painting has already been sold. The exhibition remains open till 15th may at The Art Shop, Durbar Marg.

Coming Back to Life
Collector : Ms. Andrea, U.K

The art of Gaurav is different from the other artist because he usually used collage method in the canvas, while many other artists do use color in their painting.

“Collage is cut and paste technique that gives beautiful shape from the wasted materials” Gaurav said. He had already performed two solo exhibitions. During his two solo painting exhibitions he had witnessed the overwhelming response from the audiences. In his first exhibition, Gaurav’s styles of collage was created by patching together materials such as magazine, clippings, wasted white sacks and calendars.

While in his second show, he has used only cardboard as canvas the outcome of which was unique, incredible and impressive.

“My love for creating collage through innovative ideas gives me the absolute freedom to express myself in a uniquely different approach,” he said.

Gaurav, who is a self-taught, began journey of painting from 2051 B.S, while he started the work of collage in 2000.

He believes that Nepalese people are aware enough about the work of art and they are ready to pay if the works are original and blended in beautiful works.

Gone are the days when the artist had had hard time surviving through their works of art. Earlier, only foreign diplomats and the people belonging to rich classes buy the paintings and other works or arts. But now people from every walk of life love to buy and see them, he said.

“I have receives positive admiration and appreciation from the audiences for my work and he believes that he is committed to do better in future” Gaurav said.
He said those who have already made the mark in the field of art could easily sustain their life through art. But the newcomers in the field would have hard time, he said.

Gaurav has already done four group paintings and has participated in different painting and photo competition.