Kathmandu, September 22
Legendary sculptor Kalu Kumale, celebrated in Nepal and abroad as “Krodhakala Shiromani” (Crest Jewel of Wrathful Art) for his mastery of tantric and wrathful deity iconography, died on Tuesday at the age of 93.
Kumale, an honorary member of the Nepal Academy of Fine Arts (NAFA), passed away on September 22. According to his son, Rakesh Awale, family members found him unconscious at around 11 am and took him to Sumeru City Hospital, where he was declared dead at noon.
His body will be kept at his home on Tuesday. At 10:30 am on September 23, it will be taken to the Nepal Academy of Fine Arts, from where it will be taken to Balkumari Ghat in Tyagal, Lalitpur, for the final rites at noon.
Born in 1933, Kumale, also known by his family name Kumha, built a career spanning more than seven decades as one of Nepal’s foremost metal and stone sculptors. He worked in the traditional lost-wax method to create sculptures of wrathful and peaceful deities drawn from Hindu, Buddhist and Newa traditions.
His works are installed at some of the Kathmandu Valley’s most revered religious sites, including the Bhairav idol at Kwachhen Balkumari Temple and the Dhanvantari Barahi at Dhantal Temple in Lalitpur, the Ganesh and Bhairav figures at Tyagal Balkumari Temple, and the large statue atop the Dharmadhatu Mandala in front of Patan’s Mahabuddha Temple.
He also created the face paintings of the Ashtamatrika deities, including Ganesh and Bhairav, at Bishnu Devi Temple in Satungal, as well as the six-and-a-half-foot Barahi Yogini housed at Patan Durbar Museum.
Kumale’s work also extended beyond Nepal. His sculptures are held at the Victoria and Albert Museum in Britain and the Tibetan Traditional Medical University Museum in Tibet. His works also include a 21-foot Bhagwati statue at the Argha Durbar premises.
Over his career, he created more than 600 sculptures, including representations of Chhvaska Muni Ajima (Palden Lhamu), Vajrayogini, Vajravarahi, Vajrabhairav, Chakrasamvara, Kalabhairav, Svetabhairav, Kagyu Mahakala, Garuda, Kalachakra, Hayagriva, Vajrapani, Padmapani Lokeshwor, Mahadev, Kali and Harakha Dya. Many of his works were sent to monasteries and collections in more than 55 countries.
Over the decades, Kumale received numerous state and civic honours, including the Prabal Gorkha Dakshinabahu, Prabal Janasevashree, National Talent Award, Lifetime Achievement Award, National Best Domestic Entrepreneur Award, Lalitpur Mahanagar Gaurav Puraskar, Araniko National Lalit Kala Pragya Samman, Dirgha Sadhana Samman, National Citizen Samman, Senior Artist Samman and the title “Tho Shhowa,” among others.
He is survived by three sons and two daughters.
