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Nepal Art |
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Art
The art and culture of Nepal has been strongly influenced by
the religious beliefs of the country. The artwork is
decorative, delicate and very beautiful. Nepal art is strongly
influenced by the culture of the people and the two really go
together and are interwoven. The two most typical forms of art
are that of paintings and sculptures. Nepal art and culture
has changed little over the centuries though western
influences are slowly starting to affect some modern artists. |
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Painting
The earliest examples of Nepalese art in painting form
is that of manuscript illustrations found on palm
leaves. This tradition goes far back into the past and
the earliest known illustrated manuscript is the
Astasahasrika Prajnaparamita of 1015 AD. Often the
wooden covers which were created to protect the
manuscript-painted leaves are more lavishly decorated
than the actual manuscript. Many examples of this type
of art have survived and are well preserved. The
influence that religion has on such artwork is evident
in the fact that such manuscripts are usually only
decorated with figures |
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of
divinities. All the manuscripts are illustrated with images of
gods and goddesses, regardless of whether they are Buddhist or
Hindu in origin. Oftentimes certain manuscripts – along with
the relevant imagery – would be copied and donated to a monk,
priest, monastery or temple. Thus the style of painting
remained fairly constant and painting quality was maintained
for a long period of time. The quality of paper manuscripts
also declined. Due to this, older paintings are now held in
higher regard than more modern manuscripts of lower quality.
Another form of painting that is evident in
Nepal since the ancient times are Thangka Paintings. These
were primarily religious in nature and were used as icons in
worship. These paintings are known as Paubha in Newari and
Thangka in Tibetan, and originated in Nepal. The creation of
illuminated wall paintings or religious metal sculptures was
in big demand at one stage and this spawned an ‘industry’ of
skilled artisans who catered to the demand by initiating the
painting of such icons on cloth which could be rolled up and
easily transported. These thangka paintings were widely
received with praise and thus made their way into homes and
monasteries in the ninth century and are still popular today.
A good example of a thangka painting is the ‘Mandala of
Vishnu’ which dates back to 1420 AD. Early thangkas are simple
in design and consist of a centrally positioned large deity
surrounded by smaller figures of lesser importance. From the
15th century, the Tantric cult started to take hold of the
people of the land. Artists started to use brighter colors and
there was a tendency towards the portrayal of Shiva and Shakti
in various conventional poses. Because of the esoteric nature
of Tantrism, a strong emphasis was put on the female element
and sexuality during this time. The thangkas produced were
said to possess magic forces and a great variety of symbols
were incorporated into the artwork. |
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Sculpture
Sculpture has enjoyed a long and interesting history in
Nepal and many carved artifacts have been found in the
Terai region of the country. All early sculptures were
religious in nature and the artists themselves also
seemed to be extremely devoted to their various deities.
While early sculptures were very simple, but those from
the Lichchhavi period were strikingly beautiful. These
sculptures were made from stone, copper and bronze and
depict round faces and slanted eyes. There is a lot of
attention to detail while still presenting the deity in
a simplistic way. The use of clothing and ornaments were
always kept to a minimum and often the subject wears
only a dhoti or sanghatis. The Lichchhavi period (5-8
CE) was the Golden Age of Nepalese sculpture and many
excellently excavated and preserved examples can be
found. Woodcarving, while not always in ornamental form,
also served a decorative purpose in ancient Nepal and
thus is viewed as an art form. Windows, doors, temples,
roof-struts and numerous artefacts were all carved by
hand and can be still seen in the Katmandu valley. Wood
is not as long-lasting as stone and so |
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examples do not date back further than the 14th century
yet wood carving continues to be a very prominent aspect
of Nepalese architecture. Nepalese art work had far
reaching effects on other cultures. The first major
introduction of local art to other cultures occurred in
the 7th century AD when Mahayana Buddhism was introduced
in Tibet under the order of the king Angshuvarma. A
large number of monasteries were subsequently built and
these all needed to be filled with manuscripts and
sculptures. Today some of the most outstanding examples
of Nepalese art can be found in Tibet. Nepal’s artistic
influence even cross the borders of China when Nepalese
artisans were sent to the courts of Chinese emperors to
impart their knowledge to local craftsmen and to create
artworks. The most exemplary contribution of this nature
was made by the innovator and architect Balbahu or ‘Arniko’,
who’s many creations can still be found to this day.
Stupa Style
A Nepalese architectural style borne out of Buddhist
concepts and used in the construction of Buddhist
shrines. Stupa architecture is easy to spot. A square
base is mounted upon a hemispherical structure. Atop the
strong base are thirteen rings layered on top of each
other and progressively narrowing to a point. A parasol
tops it all off. The square bases, also known as harmika
has pairs of “all-seeing” eyes painted on each of its
exposed sides. Swayambhu Shrine and Baudhanath Shrines,
declared World Heritage Sites by UNESCO, are exquisite
examples of the stupa style. In Patan you will discover
some of the oldest stupas in Nepal that were
commissioned by King Ashoka.
Shikhara Style
Nepal's Shikhara style consists of 5 or nine vertical
sections forming a high pyramidal or curvilinear
tower-like structure. The apex is bell-shaped. This
style is not very common, but a fine example can be seen
in Patan, it is the Krishna temple. |
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Architecture
The magnificent architecture of Nepal is a form of
art which truly captures the culture and essence
of Nepal. Traditional Nepalese architecture
attracts both tourists and scholars to this
amazing country. The fascinating historical
buildings and unique Nepalese architectural
designs inspire much awe. Particularly popular is
Bhaktapur where tourists can explore numerous
outstanding Nepalese architectural structures.
Certain people have divided Nepal's architecture
into three non-specific stylistic groups, namely
pagoda style, stupa style and shikhara style.
Pagoda Style
This Nepalese architectural style features several
layered roofs that have broad eaves carefully held
up by carved wood struts. The building's roof is
typically crowned by triangular spires surrounding
upside-down bell made out of burnished gold.
Windows on |
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the
structure protrude and are usually latticed. The pagoda
style is a true demonstration of fine artistic
architectural design. Interestingly, China later
borrowed the style which further spread through Asia.
Pay a visit to Kasthamandap in the Kathmandu Valley to
view an impressive wooden pagoda constructed during the
Malla age. Another spectacular example of this
intriguing Nepalese architectural style is Basantpur
Palace, a nine-story structure commissioned by King
Prithvi Narayan Shah. Also make your way the the temples
of Pashupati, Changu Narayan and Taleju. |
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