Written by: Remon Sangat - 25012, Grade IX
Posted on: 19 November, 2021
Art and culture are precious assets of our country. Our traditional art is related to religion and culture. It is based on religious beliefs, gods, culture etc. It has a long history of art and culture. The history of art started from the Lichchhavi period. Nepalese artisans have been designing gods statues from their sill on paper, walls, metal, clays, wood etc. Nepalese arts are divided into three categories. They are:- Painting, architecture and sculpture.
Painting
Painting is an art of painting from an ideal in the form of a picture. We can express ideals, feeling, knowledge etc through the art of painting. Neplease painting are mainly based on religions. Traditional painting also reflect our culture, norms, value, lifestyle and beliefs. Many sculptures made in the Lichchhavi period are still available in the painting but then are not available in present. Painting may have less durability than the sculpture and we destroyed since they were generally made on paper, clothes, leaf, wall etc. Neplease painting are divided in three types: Book painting, Wall painting and Scroll painting.
Book Painting
Paintings found in books are called book painting. Book paintings are the oldest painting in Neplease painting. Book painting called ‘Astasahasrika Prajnaparamita’ made in the 10th century is the oldest among the Neplease book paintings. Book painting is considered a painting of gods and goddesses. Paintings made in 11th century ‘Niswastantra’, 12th century ‘Vishnu Dharmagrantha’, 13th century ‘Pancharaksha Grantha’ are the most important book paintings among the traditional book paintings in our country. Traditional book paintings are painted 12-18 inches long and 3-4 inches wide.
Scroll painting
Scroll paintings are drawn in cloth. Paintings made on cloth have a distinct place in neplease painting. Scroll paintings are also called patachitra in kathmandu valley and thanka in the northern region of Nepal. Scroll painting is further classified into pata and mandala. Painting size of scroll painting is bigger than book painting. Scroll painting is full of designs of things like rivers, hills, trees, clouds etc. Scroll paintings are drawn in the Buddhist community while there are religious performances. In the Newar community there is tradition of performing Bhim Rathaarohan when someone attains 77 years.
Wall painting
Paintings made on houses, buildings, temples, restaurants etc are called wall painting. It is the general practice of people belonging to different communities in Nepal. Wall painting is also based on religious beliefs. According to the rule of wall painting it is fixed what and where to draw paintings on the walls of temples or bahaals. The paintings of yaksha, buddha etc are drawn above the windows of temples or bahaala. The available wall painting of Nepal made on the wall of Taleju Bhawani temple of Bhaktapur in 15 century is considered to be the oldest temple. Mithila painting is one of the most refined forms of wall painting. It is mostly practiced in the Terai region among the Maithili community. There is a tradition of making Mithila paintings containing religious stories, animals, birds etc. It is popular in the Tharu community as well.
