A Living Art Show
The valley of Kathmandu is one of the most concentrated repositories of
art and design that exist in the world; it is one of the greatest living art
shows imaginable.
Nepal has long been famous for quality work. In the
past, beautiful bronzes were made, not only for the home
market, but for export or sale to pilgrim tourists.
Today, exquisite bronze images of the gods and goddesses of the Hindu and Buddhist pantheons are still fashioned and sold.
Early Chinese travellers marvelled at Nepalese architecture with its
richly decorated temples, palaces and houses; the Nepalese wood-carver
has always excelled in ornately carved windows and roof supports, fashioned
in the elegant forms of deities. It is known that the Nepalese architect,
Arniko, took the pagoda style of architecture to neighbouring Tibet and
from thence to China in the ninth century.
The bronze-casters, scroll painters and silversmiths of the Kathmandu
valley were responsible for taking their art to Tibet, and until a couple of
decades ago, many Nepali artists were working in Tibet supplying art works
for the local market.
The arts of Nepal, with the exception of stone carving, are still very much
alive, and in the cities of the valley, master craftsmen, artisans and artists
are still fashioning masterpieces, following traditions and using techniques
that in many cases stretch back well over a thousand years.
Large areas of the city of Patan are given over to the production of art
works, and for the adventurous visitor with an interest in arts and crafts,
there is always an excellent opportunity to see artists and craftsmen at
work in their houses.
The advent of tourism in the late fifties acted as a stimulus to Nepalese
arts and crafts, as it brought with it not only a demand for small souvenir.
but also for high quality items produced by labour intensive methods that
could not be copied by machines anywhere in the world. A fine scroll
painting, wood-carving or brass image made in Nepal is something unique
and exclusive, and buyers can feel that they have purchased one of a kind.
or at least, one of a limited edition.
To preserve the national heritage of Nepal, His Majesty's Government
has banned the export of antiques of all kinds, but for those with taste and
interest, there are many beautiful objects and treasures to buy in the bazaars
of Kathmandu, Patan and Bhaktapur. Many new bronzes and scroll
paintings have been "antiqued", and in such cases it is better to get a
museum clearance from the Department of Archaeology, near the main
gate of the Singha Durbar in Kathmandu.
Over the past twenty years, the handwoven carpet industry has grown
and flourished in Nepal. The art of carpet weaving was brought from Tibet,
but now Nepalese as well as Tibetan designs are available in the market
and are extremely popular with tourists and local people.
The mighty peaks of the Himalayan ranges are what call many visitors
to Nepal in the first place, but nevertheless the beauty of the kingdom's
art and architecture will linger in the minds of many for long after a visit
to the valley of Kathmandu.
|