Valley inspirations

HIMALAYAN NEWS SERVICE

KATHMANDU: A person can be inspired by anyone or anything. There is no boundary. And artist Richard Crooks from UK — an international residency artist at Kathmandu Contemporary Arts Centre (KCAC), Patan, has been inspired by the architecture of the houses inside the

Valley.

Crooks who is involved in art field for the last 20 years talked on the topic ‘Theme, Process, Identity’ at a talk programme held at Siddhartha Art Gallery, Babarmahal Revisited on August 28. The programme was organised by KCAC.

The artist was at the event to share on the issues like what inspires him in his work and how he completes his artwork that has the reflection of his

influences.

Crooks also showed his current works as well as few of his sculptures that reflected the architectural design of the houses of valley through a power point presentation .

He revealed his various influences such as Chinese/Japanese ceramic vessels, Indian idols, Nepali houses and more.

Crooks also showcased the photographs of various houses that have inspired him and he described why he liked a particular house. He shared, “Here people give more priority to face value where the front part of the houses are beautifully decorated and coloured while they just leave the back and sides flat which look like sliced in half.”

But Crooks got inspired by the houses of Valley “which are hybrid of different styles and cacophony of shapes and colours.”

About the programme, Subhadra Maharjan from the audience shared, “We have never admired the things like concrete houses in Nepal but they have become the source of inspiration for some artists. This has showed us new possibilities for influences in art work.”

Moreover, Sanjeev Maharjan, Manager of KCAC informed, “This kind of talk programme helps to know and learn about the work and process of international artists. Moreover, it helps to exchange ideas also.”