“Art is created out of different situations, be they social situa­tions, political situations or personal situations. Situations of utter frustration yet also situations of hope,” says artist Chirag Bangdel. Bangdel’s most recent paint­ing exhibit, ‘Figurative Tran­sitions: Recent Works’, was inaugurated at GG Machan restaurant in Lalitpur on April 6. With 25 solo exhibitions in Nepal alone, Bangdel is one of the country’s finest visual artists, whose figurative com­positions have been loved for their wonderful sense of color and lyrical manifestations.

 

“Many of my paintings in this exhibition are based on hope and I call this series ‘Sea­son of Hope’. I use the conch or the saankha as a symbol of hope,” says Bangdel, who is also a Kathmandu-based writer, poet and RJ.

 

“Like all artists, I create for the joy of it. Nothing makes me happier than painting and creating new stuff,” Bangdel told APEX.

 

“I have also come to real­ize that whatever progress we make, it is only love that will save humanity at the end of the day and that’s something that I want to show in my paintings,” says Bangdel.

 

The artist’s works this time were all painted on acrylics. “Acrylics is the most used medium around the world. It is a medium that is easy to work on as it is fast-drying. That suits my style.”

 

A self-taught artist, Bang­del received his early train­ing from his granduncle, the famous artist Lain Singh Bang­del. In the past few years, his works have been exhibited as far afield as The Netherlands, France and Germany.

 

All the paintings on the exhibit are for sale, with prices ranging from Rs 15,000-Rs 60,000. The exhibition ends April 30. APEX BUREAU