Born to a family in which arts and crafts were a hobby practiced by both grandfather and father, Uday Charan Shrestha developed an interest in the field in his early childhood. Noticing his interest in art, and to foster his obvious talent, the school he attended sent him to Bal Mandir (a government run children’s home). The centre offered various activities for school children twice a week, and naturally Shrestha chose drawing and painting. Here, he emphasized portrait painting and drawing, still life, and everyday compositions, which he enjoyed immensely. He was introduced to the traditional arts through some friends, who came to Bal Mandir to receive tuition in the traditional paubha arts by great masters. This latter form of art, to which he has been devoted ever since, appealed to him. He is one of the first among the traditional paubha artists – who commonly learn from great masters before practicing independently – to obtain an academic degree in fine arts.
His meticulously rendered compositions adhere strictly to the Sadhanas, or the canon of deity iconography. Although traditional paubha painting uses mineral and stone colour, the artist also experiments with oil and acrylic paints, a medium he has mastered in minute detail, so precise that the works can be looked at through a magnifying glass. The unique feature of his art is the constant experimental approach: a play on light, threedimensional forms and colouring techniques with which he sustains minute attention to detail. Initially, criticised for new modes of expression, his work later became accepted and admired. Today he is celebrated as one of most innovative among the traditional artists.
Written by Swosti Rajbhandari Kayastha
close