Another dimension to reality
HIMALAYAN NEWS SERVICE
KATHMANDU: Something beyond reality is surreal, and the exhibition ‘From Real to Surreal — A Meditative Journey’ started on January 12 at Siddhartha Art Gallery, Baber Mahal Revisited with a similar theme that can amaze anyone.
The exhibition is a collaboration between Iranian photographers Somaye Farhan and Soha Ebrahimzandi with 13 art students of Kathmandu University Centre for Art and Design Students — Prajwol Bhattarai, Prabla Bikram Shah, Tsewang Lama, Kiran Maharjan, Niroj Maharjan, among others.
The exhibition displays a fantastic collection of 13 artworks done by the art students. Their artworks are based on the photographs of real places, people and things captured by Farhan and Ebrahimzandi during their bicycle tour of the world that began in 2012 with an aim of educating children about pursuing their dreams beyond restrictions and boundaries.
As the title suggests, a team of 13 artists have given their creative and imaginative touch to the photographs of children. In the photographs, children are sitting on doorsteps, playing in the playground, playing with trees and people of different localities of Nepal, all have been transformed into beautiful artworks having a perfect marriage between photography and painting.
In the artwork ‘Break Free’ by Ramesh Kadayat — seven children are in an upside down position leaning on a wall, while two giant hands emerge out of the wall. It looks as if the hands are controlling the movement of the children like a puppeteer. A few strings are attached to the children’s legs and the black and white colour add weight to the work. Along with the painting, the actual photograph in black and white is also on display showing the playful nature of the children.
About the artwork, a visitor Pal Saud shared, “The exhibition has shown the best combination of photography and artwork. The artworks are imaginative and have different taste where the combination of photographs and art has not been disturbed and it’s hard to distinguish whether it’s photograph or painting.”
About the exhibition Ebrahimzandi expresses, “Photographs are instant moment of live phenomena which should be completed by the hands of its own soul and we are satisfied with the outcome where Nepali art students are very creative.”
The exhibition is on till January 17.
