Sound of Existence - III

Manish Lal Shrestha is an energetic visual artist who through his versatile creative vision and inspiring works has been able to ascertain a personal space of his own in the contemporary art ambiance. Manish is a clear example that age is not a bar regarding the accomplishment of creative wisdom, for he, in a young age has achieved such art insight that amazes and captivates all. After his graduation from Sir J. J. School of art, Mumbai in 2001 AD, he deliberately represented modern motifs in his art works that set him as one of the pioneers to explore Post modern Tendency in Nepal. The post modern movement emerged in Nepali contemporary art scenario in 2000 A.D. Since then, he has time and again proved his prominent potential as a conceptual artist and created series of art works through his influential brush stroke, perceptive material selection and dominant ideas. Normally, he depicts Bells and Shells to represent positive vibration against bad energies in his art. And parallel to that, these powerful metaphors have worked pertinently in expressing his inner feeling in order to bring forth the current issues of Nepal. His art works are ideal paradigm that spread the sounds of hope, harmony, peace, intimacy and fraternity in people. His art is the comment on the ongoing global political turmoil, senseless violence, communal riots and brutal affairs and he further affirms that love, care and positive attitude are the constructive solution to these human agonies.
 
Manish Lal Shrestha states "life without sound is worthless" and this particular affirmation has become the primary aspect in his work. He commenced his initial exhibitions with unconventional theme, painting a series of works on sound (Sound of Hope, Sound of Silence, Sound of Intimacy, Sound of Wisdom etc), and still the reverberation continues with great precision and clarity on his canvases. Manish Lal Shrestha creates seemingly tiny metaphors in his works that provide harmonious effect and eventually they shape up in speaking of the entire universe. Besides evoking the concept of the universe within us, these tiny metaphors also connect us to our long cultural heritage. Presently, he is pensively in search of privacy through his work and is eager to whisper silent conversation. These conversations question the self, and the self also functions as a listener to its own heartbeat and the flow of blood. This expands the idea of spiritualism and evokes a sense of meditation in his art works. Consequently a huge face appears in his canvases that silently appeals in the senses of the onlooker. His continuous use of motifs such as "Circle" and the universal representation of "Bar Code" converse of the never ending process of life.
 
Manish Lal Shrestha is highly recognized as one of the influential artists of younger generation and thus he has been decorated with various awards from Nepal Association of Fine Arts. Several national and international solo exhibitions to his credit, his reputation are that of young creative genius. Despite a sad incident in Holland where his painting was stolen, his desire to generate optimistic energy through his art works successfully evolve in the ephemeral dimensions of nature.  He fittingly deserved the solo exhibition in Switzerland and participation in major art events in Srilanka and Pakistan where he once again proved his creative elevation as always. 
 
Because of his deep creative tranquil nature, he is constantly formulating new thoughts and setting high standards from every art that he creates.  His works are the beautiful example of exceptional master pieces that comes out only from a Natural Artist.

Mukesh Malla    
Art critic