Rupa Maharjan.
London artist Rupa Maharjan lovingly portrays the unshakeable strength of the people of Nepal
By James Brewer
In a remarkably expressive group of oil paintings, Rupa Maharjan draws the viewer to her native land of Nepal. The series of moving scenes pays homage to the unbreakable spirit of the Nepalese community, which was convulsed by the massive earthquake of April 25 2015 and its aftershocks.
The London artist lifts the spirits – by lifting from the Himalayan nation the ‘disaster’ label that it has borne since that fateful April day. Rupa celebrates the dignity and self-confidence of the common people, almost as though the tragedy plays out on a different page.
Chulo. Oil on canvas. By Rupa Maharjan.
By depicting scenes of both devoted craftsmanship and dramatic landscape, Rupa conveys the essence of Nepal as opposed to the agony. Not only are her constructs – such as a potter at work, woman spinning, man smoking a hookah, a hunter after bees’ honey, or baby in a metal bathtub — striking, but her command of detail – lined forehead, leaping flames, droplets of water – is outstanding. Her figures radiate calm fortitude and resolve.
After her most recent show, in October 2015 at Southfields Gallery, Wimbledon, which was her third joint appearance there, she said: “I have not been back to Kathmandu since the earthquake, but watching the events unfold from afar, I felt so helpless. My nights were sleepless thinking of my family, what they were doing, what they were eating, and how they were sleeping because for so many days they had to stay outside in the cold and rain. For them it was not possible to enter their home, so how could I have a sound night’s sleep?
Honey Hunter. Oil on canvas. By Rupa Maharjan.
“But I am happy now because despite the countless losses, my country is still alive and I hope it will rise above this pain again. That was the main motive which inspired to me to carry through this recent exhibition.
“The exhibition was related to the regular and normal life of Nepali society. In some places the activities, crafts and skills I have shown in the paintings, like Hukka and Spinning wheel are still practised, but not always like in the old days. They are often just done for pleasure. Because there is such interest, fortunately I don’t think these crafts and skills are in danger.”
Rupa’s family and close friends survived the earthquake, although some of their neighbours perished or lost their property.
The April and May tremors affected some 8m people in one way or another. The shocks and accompanying landslides – the epicentre was 80km from Kathmandu – left 8, 891 people dead, destroyed more than 600, 000 dwellings and damaged 290, 000 other houses, according to estimates by the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs. Some 16, 000 porters and hundreds of mules were brought in to deliver assistance to remote and isolated villages.
Nude study. Oil on canvas. By Rupa Maharjan.
Rupa Maharjan was born in Siddhipur in Lalitpur district of the Kathmandu Valley, a township where mat-making and weaving are among the occupations. Her favourite season in Nepal is post-monsoon (mid-September, October and November). This season brings a return to stable high pressure, giving mainly clear skies, sunshine, warm days and cool nights.
She studied fine art at Lalit Kala Campus (a pioneering institute of the arts in Nepal, and part of Tribhuvan University), Kathmandu, “but I have been drawing and painting for as long as I can remember. I learnt the basic skills from my school (Kopila English Secondary).from where I began the journey of art.” In Nepal, she has had two solo exhibitions, and later two solo shows in London at the Asian Community Hall.
Rupa went on: “Sometimes I work with water colours, sometimes with charcoal, but more than any other medium I like working with oils. All my tools and preparatory processes are quite traditional: for me all this tradition feels so exciting and comfortable.”
It is clear that she caresses lovingly each brushstroke in her exceptional work, to produce essays in poise and style. She deploys an uncommon felicity of composition as she places her subjects squarely in the frame, with nothing to distract from the central activities in which they are engaged.
Given her acute observational powers, it is interesting to learn who and what in the art world kindle her appreciation.
“I admire those artists who are really passionate in their work, ” she said. “They have their own style and they are original. But the great artist from the past whom I admire most is Turner. His art is unique, a fascinating mixture of steam and water, of light and air, memories of the classical past, and closely observed depictions of contemporary reality and challenging innovation. I shall forever be in love with his work.”
Hukka. Oil on canvas. By Rupa Maharjan.
JMW Turner (1775-1851) who vividly depicted shipwrecks, fires, and natural phenomena is often known as “the painter of light, ” and it is a tribute to that aspect and the affection for humanity that critics have identified in his work that can be seen in Rupa’s output.
Rupa enjoys being in London, where she has lived for more than five years. “From what I have seen in London, including on my visits to galleries and museums, people here really love art — they respect art and they know the value of art – so they have preserved it as much as they can .This is what I like most about London.”
The main theme of her next project will be the Himalayas. The Kathmandu Valley is overlooked by four mountains: Shivapuri, Phulchoki, Nagarjun and Chandragiri. Rupa is in thrall to the expanse of territory because it lies at the crossroads of ancient civilisations of Asia and has been described as “an enormous treasure house of art and sculptures.”
