The portraiture and landscapes in Kathmandu galleries reflect an idealised Nepal that does not exist. Art must evolve to speak for all Nepalis and not just for its elite urban patrons.
What does it mean when a community's artwork fails to represent the concerns of the community? The offerings in Kathmandu's museums and galleries, and the traditionally made art in the stores, depict only serenity, beauty and harmony. But a day in Kathmandu will contradict the guide-book description of Nepal and Nepalis as peaceful and peace-loving. In whose interest is it to have institutions display nostalgic, even dishonest, art?
To arrive at some answers, the political and economic ideology of the city's public and private cultural institutions must be examined, keeping in mind that artwork is necessarily shaped by the nature of its patronage. Only then can we understand the place of traditional art, the need for "honesty" in contemporary art, and why Kathmandu's art increasingly tends to misrepresent Nepal.
THE PATRON'S AGENDA