Art, Architecture and Painting in Nepal

Art, architecture and painting in nepal

Art, Architecture, and Painting in Nepal, the Kathmandu valley surrounding by temples, are pagodas style. The pagodas are multi-tiered monuments elongated towards the top with intricate wood carving in the forms of doors, windows, and struts. These ubiquitous wooden historical structures are supplemented by bronze works and stone sculptures together forming the squares and palaces with the profuse representation of images of gods, goddesses, demons, beasts, mythical figures kings, and the ordinary human beings engaged in their day to day activities.
Nepal’s ethnic diversity, religious and cultural beliefs, festivities, gods and goddesses in their many manifestations, demons, myths, legends, folklore, and myriad spiritual and supernatural elements have been the subject of profound interest to visitors. Its cultural mosaic is enriched by folk art and artistic creations, which are reflected in its music. Musical instruments, paintings (thangkas), masks and curio items of cultural significance, and numerous other objects of art.
The Kathmandu valley surrounding by temples, they are pagodas style. The pagodas are multi-tiered monuments tapering towards the top with intricate wood carving in the forms of doors, windows, and struts. These ubiquitous wooden historical structures are supplemented by bronze works and stone sculptures together forming the squares and palaces with the profuse representation of images of gods, goddesses, demons, beasts, mythical figures kings, and the ordinary human beings engaged in their day to day activities.
The Lichchavi period is known as the classical period of Nepalese history because it was during this period that art and architecture began to take shape. Trade and crafts flourished under them, and they built magnificent temples, palaces, and monuments. However, it was only under the later Malla period and the early Shah period from the 14th to the 18th centuries the valley’s fabulous cities with their exquisite pagoda, shikhara and stupa architecture, ornate palaces, and artistic temples came to take shape in the form that we see it today.

Art, Architecture, and Painting in Nepal

Nepal,s ethnic diversity, religious and cultural beliefs, festivities, gods and goddesses in their many manifestations, demons, myths, legends, folklore, and myriad spiritual and supernatural elements have been the subject of profound interest to visitors. Its cultural mosaic is enriched by folk art and artistic creations, which are reflected in its music, musical, instruments, paintings (Thangks), masks and curio items of cultural significance, and numerous other objects art.
Harmonious inter-relationship and tolerance between Hinduism and Buddhism and the mutual respect and acceptance of each other have created a congenial environment for the development of art and culture. Early visitors to the country described the valley as the abode of the gods and goddesses where there were more temples than houses and more gods and goddesses than people. Writings by 7th century Chinese travelers reported well–built towns and settlements with magnificent palaces and temples. Its narrow streets with roofed brick houses in a row on both sides, paved squares, open platforms or stages, stone water spouts, and a landscape punctuated by temples, stupas, monasteries, and numerous other religious and cultural monuments added to its aesthetic beauty.
The natural splendor of the valley, its history, and cultural magnificence have attracted visitors, pilgrims traders, and scholars who dared to venture into the mountains and inhospitable terrain in search of the elusive Shangri-La, what makes Kathmandu valley unique is the merger of its magnificent natural environment with a living civilization reflected in its towns, monuments, festivities, highly stylized pageants, ritualistic customs, religious traditions, and vibrant culture.

Painting in Nepal

Thangka (Pauva) Art
The art of painting in Nepal is as old as the carvings in stone and metal, and it is variously expressed in the murals, manuscripts, Gathas (wooden covers of manuscripts), and on cloth and paper. As in other forms of Nepalese art, religion has played a dominant role in painting, too. Thangkas, also known as Pauvas, are traditional paintings depicting religious themes and deities. It is prepared on a piece of fine cotton or silk cloth which is coated with a mixture of glue, chalk, and indigo and finally varnished with the white of a duck’s egg mixed with water. The Pauva paintings have generally been painted by traditional ethnic castes like the Chitrakars, Shakyas, Vajracharys, and Tibetan Lamas.

Mithila Art

These days, Kaithili art or painting is also gaining popularity among tourists. Basically, Maithili art is a folk painting dominated by religious themes, Janakpur in central –south Nepal is the center of this school of art, the people of Mithila, generally womenfolk. Paint the walls of their house with pictures of different flowers and objects of socio-religious themes in bright colors. The women of Mithila have cultivated this ceremonial art of drawing and painting on the mud walls of their houses, the floors of their thresholds, and courtyards. Sita, the princess of Mithila and consort of Emma of the epic Ramayana, has been the perennial source of inspiration to the women of Mithila in this ancient craft of painting. Today, they are experimenting with their ancient art on paper as a form of prayer. The art of Mithila is heavily influenced by tantric cults as in the Pauvas and, therefore their paintings are full of Tantric symbols like the Mandala in Tibetan art.