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Shashi Bikram Shah

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Shashi Bikram Shah
शशी बिक्रम शाह
Shah in his studio, 2017
Born (1940-03-31) 31 March 1940 (age 84)
Bhote Bahal, Kathmandu
NationalityNepali
EducationSir J.J. School of Art, Mumbai
Known forpainting, drawing
Notable workTen Incarnations, Kalki Avatar, Samudramanthan, Royal Massacre Series

Shashi Bikram Shah (also: Shashi Shah, Nepali: शशी बिक्रम शाह) is a Nepali artist born in Kathmandu in 1940, and with a career spanning five decades, is regarded as one of the preeminent contemporary artists of Nepal and one of the country's first modernist painters.[1][2][3][4][5][6][7]

Shah’s lifelong fascination with art matured in the 1960s while studying at the Sir J.J. School of Art in Mumbai, where he got introduced to works of impressionists and surrealists. The influence of these artists are still evident in Shah’s paintings which continuously aim to capture the world’s suffering. His works have garnered numerous accolades, have been exhibited in over ten countries, and have been featured in many public and private collections.[8][9][10][11]

Shah's works are often based on myths from Hindu puranas. He is renowned for his depiction of horses, which in his work is often a metaphor for the Kalki avatar of Vishnu, who in Hindu iconography is depicted riding a horse.[12] Kalki is a salvation figure prophesied to appear at the end of the Kali Yuga for the deliverance of human beings from suffering and adharma. In effect, Shah uses this metaphor to represent the duality of and the dialectics between suffering and salvation.[13][14] Many of Shah's work draw from the Dashavatar, the ten primary incarnations of Vishnu.[15]

While rooting his paintings in traditional Hindu motifs, Shah also represents contemporary issues such as war, terrorism, and inequality.[16] In addition to paintings, Shah is also known for his draftsmanship and sculptures.[17]

Shah was an active member of SKIB'71,[18][19] the first modernist art collective in Nepal. In addition to Shashi Shah, the group consisted of Krishna Manandhar, Indra Pradhan, and Batsa Gopal Vaidya.[20] He was also a founder member and principal of the Sirjana College of Fine Arts in Kathmandu.[21]

References

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  1. ^ "'Panorama 60's: Pioneers of Nepali Modernism' to conclude on Thursday". My City. Retrieved 22 July 2019.
  2. ^ "Panorama 60's: Pioneers of Nepali Modernism: Art Exhibition". Bikalpa Art Center. 26 July 2018. Retrieved 22 July 2019.
  3. ^ "Influence, Modernity and Nepali Art - chautara.nl". www.chautara.nl. Retrieved 22 July 2019.
  4. ^ "A niche of his own". The Himalayan Times. 28 February 2008. Retrieved 22 July 2019.
  5. ^ "In a Class of his Own: Shashi Shah | Features | ECSNEPAL - The Nepali Way". ecs.com.np. Retrieved 22 July 2019.
  6. ^ "Shashi Bikram Shah « Siddhartha Art Gallery". Retrieved 22 July 2019.
  7. ^ "Influence, Modernity and Nepali Art - chautara.nl". www.chautara.nl. Retrieved 3 August 2019.
  8. ^ "Imago Mundi". www.imagomundiart.com. Retrieved 22 July 2019.
  9. ^ "Ten Incarnations". Fukuoka Asian Art Museum. 1999. Retrieved 23 July 2019.
  10. ^ "For the first time, over 90 artworks from 37 contemporary Nepali artists to be exhibited in Vienna next year". kathmandupost.com. Retrieved 22 July 2019.
  11. ^ Wien, Weltmuseum (16 July 2019). "Weltmuseum Wien: Nepal Art Now Contemporary Nepalese Art". www.weltmuseumwien.at. Retrieved 22 July 2019.
  12. ^ "Riding through history- Nepali Times". archive.nepalitimes.com. Retrieved 3 August 2019.
  13. ^ Chand, Priyankar (December 2016). "Gallery Sketchbook | Shashi Bikram Shah". HIMALAYA, the Journal of the Association for Nepal and Himalayan Studies. 36: 4.
  14. ^ "Shashi Shah – Earts Nepal". Retrieved 3 August 2019.
  15. ^ "Ten Incarnations - Shashi Shah". Google Arts & Culture. Retrieved 3 August 2019.
  16. ^ "Riding through history- Nepali Times". archive.nepalitimes.com. Retrieved 3 August 2019.
  17. ^ "Bhav Art Gallery - Affiliated Artists". www.bhavartgallery.com. Retrieved 3 August 2019.
  18. ^ "C.V. Shashi Shah". Bhav Art Gallery.
  19. ^ Bangdel, Dina. "Modern and Contemporary Arts of Nepal : Brief Overview". Nepal Art Council. Retrieved 4 August 2019.
  20. ^ "Sarwanam's Blog". Sarwanam's Blog. Retrieved 3 August 2019.
  21. ^ "Sashi-Bikram-Shah". Sirjana College of Fine Arts. 29 July 2016. Retrieved 3 August 2019.

Further reading

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