BFA Show 2019 gives platform to new age artists

Visitors looking at the artworks during the Graduation BFA Show 2019 exhibition being displayed at Nepal Art Council, Babarmahal, on September 2, 2019.

Sirjana College of Fine Arts recently organized an art exhibition that featured the projects of the Bachelor in Fine Arts final-year students, at Siddhartha Art Gallery, Kathmandu. A total of 17 students--9 from painting, 6 from graphic communication, and 2 sculpture--had put up their projects.

The exhibition was held by the College with an objective to ensure the graduates remain assured-inheritors of the art form they have learned. These exhibitions are a part of their academic calendar, held annually with different themes that ensure students to reveal their best, creative strength, and the level of thoughts in a single, common platform.

The exhibition showcases various forms of artwork including paintings, sculptures, prints, photographs, and art-forms from applied art-Graphic Communications.

“I have always been fascinated by smiles. Most of the time, when I see people smile, I wonder what the real face behind those smiles would be like. Because, in this world, many people are smiling in their pain, and there are always scars behind their achievements,” said Manjila Rijal, final year student of BFA.A self-portrait ‘Imperfection’, according to Rijal, is inspired by Farida Kahlo. “I want to show the life story of an artist who looks beautiful on the outside but there are lots of scars and pain in the inside,” he said.

Similarly, another final year student Samip Shakya said that he has always been motivated by the composition and minor details of the traditional Nepali art. “I feel happy to explore and learn from the art created thousands of years ago. I am trying to make a small effort so that it continues to live into the future as well.”

Likewise, a Graphic Communications student, Mrigendra Narayan Shrestha said, “This art exhibition is a platform to showcase our talents and break the stereotypical mentality of people that only see drawing or painting as art. We have showcased art in various forms including graphic communications, caricature, art and cartoon,

animation, photographs, product campaigns, and social campaigns, among others.” Talking about his course, he said, “The subject provides us various opportunities in the field of designing, photography, illustrator, cartoon artists, and freelancing among others.

Though Nepal is slowly developing in the field of modern graphic communication, I suggest all aspiring art students that they pursue this subject academically as they will get to know about the principles of the subject while working. Hence, taking an academic course for this will be much beneficial for the students in the future.”

Meanwhile, Head of the Graphics Communications, Bijaya Maharjan, talked about the unsatisfactory situations of animation in the country. “The subject is really expensive compared to other subjects. People are yet to understand about different art forms and valuess of animation in the country. We, Nepalis, think a lot before spending money and animation is an expensive subject. Hence, the designer rarely gets paid the amount they deserve. Even though the situation has improved a lot, I hope it gets much better in the coming days.”