Arts
Upon entering the Siddhartha Art Gallery in Babermahal, the earthy tones of tea tickle the nose transporting visitors back to the olden tea-drinking days with family and friends. The smell of the hot drink is combined with the serenity offered at the gallery, as the exhibition hall is dotted in the corners with tall wooden shelves filled with a number of ceramic tea cups. But the highlight is the large table in the centre of the room with a kettle boiling water on it, along with two benches on eachside of the table. Want to sit and sip a cup of tea? Yes, felt that!
But what if you could sip tea inside a beautiful garden? The bonsais at the exhibition make you want to do that.
Sculptor and ceramic artist Gopal Kalapremi Shrestha’s Art Tea Nature is an ongoing art exhibition at the gallery, which exhibits a collaboration between tea culture and ceramic art. A solo exhibition of the artist, it has 251 pieces on display which include a variety of teapots, chawan
(tea bowl), vases and kettles.
Displaying the traditional sculpture and ceramic artworks, the entire exhibition is divided into the Concord, Melting, Feminine and Carbon series gives an impression of the beauty of natural stones, rocks, mountains, glaciers, feminine features et cetera.
The Concord is a series of ceramic ware that mimics the texture of naturally occurring rocks and minerals. “The Concord collection explores the beauty of natural stone emphasizing the strength within it.”
The artworks in the carbon series have a black surface of the bowls and pots. Shrestha, inspired by the Northern Black Polished Ware, one of the oldest forms of pottery in Nepal aims to preserve the dying culture and bring it back to life through art with his works.
He uses the fluid properties of melting glaze to produce chawan with dramatic colourful surfaces. Listed under the Melting series, his works represent nature, light and mountain glaciers. The melting glaze technique required multiple applications of glazes—about eight coats.
When the kiln is at temperature, the glaze, if applied thick enough, melts enough to run down vertical surfaces. His artworks have been able to bring the flowing effects brought on by the layers of glaze melting.
The feminine shapes vessels kept under the Feminine Series “celebrates the feminine energy in all of us.” The feminine series features bold patterns, curves, shapes, and movements inspired by womanly forms. The vases resemble the shape of a female’s body.
Cups placed on wooden planks and hung with the decoration of cotton gives one the feel of flying in the blue sky. The use of light colours in making the art makes one feel closer to nature and gain the tea sipping experience.
The exhibition at the gallery will be on display till July 10.
