eSansar

Creating gold from dust

Creativity doesn't always come with lessons, nor does it set any boundary on how far you can go. It was with this belief 54-year-old Tirtha Man Sthapit made emboss art possible with sawdust. Yes sawdust!

His canvas is actually plywood and he uses a mixture of sawdust and adhesive to create images which look something like sculptures providing 3D effects to his creations. You have to see Sthapit's work to know it. "I get phone calls asking what my art is about. I explain for about half an hour and then give up and invite them to see it with their own eyes," he says. He believes that photographs only distort his etchings.

Brought up in a carpenter family, Sthapit grew up playing with wood since childhood. He was always fascinated by how logs were turned into furniture. But what actually caught his eyes was how the holes in the furniture are filled up with the mixture of glue and adhesive making the holes almost invisible.

It was not until eight years ago that he decided to take a shot at emboss art. A member of Commercial Artists Association of Nepal (CAAN), Sthapit takes a moment to recall and says that his family was angry because he was spending most of his time working. "It was as if I had gone into a hiding," he smiles.

His wife, Rupshova, fills him in. "We didn't know what he was doing for six years. He didn't show us any of his works." He'd say "later" every time anyone asked. "I remember the first time my family saw my works. They were so happy and excited," Sthapit says coyly. Six years it took him to master this unique art. He is the first in Nepal, if not the world, to have played with sawdust and come up with something so immaculate and exquisite. Winning Nepal Association of Fine Arts (NAFA) Special Prize in 2006 was just another achievement for him.

With his second exhibition going on strong, he is hopeful that his art will be recognised in the international arena soon. "I have received positive feedbacks and the media coverage has been good, too," he says. "I want the world to know that Nepal is a land filled with people who can create masterpieces out of nothing."

"One of the visitors actually called me 'the modern age Araniko'. I felt great not because of the compliment, but because my effort was acknowledged," he adds.

Sthapit has put up 33 of his works with his, what he says, amateur efforts. "These works are my babies. People don't take a second to think about how much effort I have put in them," he says politely as he inspects his intricate work.

His works exhibit the majestic mountains and the Newa lifestyle of the Kathmandu Valley. He likes to celebrate his culture and surroundings; things that make him proud, he says. "I have tried to present our country's natural beauty and traditional monuments created by our ancestors' talent and hardships in the form of art."

Sthapit now wants to share his knowledge. He admits to being very scared of the emboss art he innovated dying with him. "I am already old and I want to pass on my knowledge." "Emboss art is really difficult to master. It's not just about expression but techniques that make them appear different from every angle," Sthapit reveals.

It's not that he hasn't had students; unfortunately all were a little too scared of hard work. You have got to be devoted and religious to art, only then can one reach perfection, he says. "People now are on the lookout to steal others' ideas rather than becoming influenced. And I am not going to let that happen," he says, "People come to me asking to teach them. But all they want to do is learn how to make the mixture (of sawdust and adhesive) as fast as they can."

With about 30 people visiting his solo exhibition titled 'Struggle on the Sawdust' at Nepal Art Council Gallery at Babarmahal every day since it opened on March 18, Sthapit is happy about the enthusiasm of local people. The exhibition ends on April 9,2009.

"I sold two of my works during this exhibition. And both the buyers were Nepalis!" he exclaims with a hint of pride. "I will never part ways with my work just because I can't sell them. But if the sales are good, it'll just be another cherry on the top," he says as the final note.

By Manisha Bomjan - ekantipur.com

eSansar

Creating gold from dust

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