Kathmandu, August 25
Artist Deeprose Gurung’s solo exhibition, Samaya Yatra (Journey of Time), is currently on display at Shashi Art Gallery in Balaju, featuring paintings that explore women, relationships, memory and childhood experiences.
The exhibition, which runs from August 15 to 29, presents predominantly female figures alongside recurring motifs including parrots, moons, paper planes and paper boats. Red is a prominent colour throughout the works.
Gurung said his focus on women is influenced by the women around him, including his mother, sisters and friends.
“I am surrounded by women in such a way that I cannot separate myself from the feminine energy,” he said.
The artist uses parrots as a recurring symbol alongside female figures, associating the birds with communication, trust and emotional expression. He said he sees similarities between women and parrots in their ability to communicate openly when they feel comfortable and trust others.
The paintings also incorporate moons and childhood objects such as paper planes and boats. According to Gurung, the objects represent memories and the imagination associated with childhood, while the planes and boats suggest ideas of flying and travelling.
One of the works in the exhibition features a male nude figure, differing from the predominantly female subjects in the collection. The painting also incorporates the artist’s palette as part of the composition, highlighting the process of creating the work.
Samjhana Rajbhandari, mentor and director of Shashi Art Studio, described Gurung’s use of lines as one of the distinguishing features of his work. “The works of Deeprose are really profound, and the way he uses lines in his figures marks him as a distinct emerging artist of Nepal,” Rajbhandari said.
Gurung developed much of his artistic practice at Shashi Art Studio, which was established in 2010 and later evolved into a shared studio space for emerging artists.
The exhibition at Shashi Art Gallery provides a collection of Gurung’s recent works, bringing together recurring themes of femininity, communication, memory and personal experience.
Photos: Deeprose Gurung
