Patan, Lalitpur/ The historic courtyard of the Patan Museum came alive on Sunday with the grand opening of the Himalayan Art Camp 2025, a week-long international art gathering organized under the theme “Together for Art Tourism.”
The vibrant event, hosted by E-Arts Nepal in collaboration with the Lalitpur Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI), features 30 international artists from 15 countries alongside 10 prominent Nepali artists.
Since its inception in 2017, the Himalayan Art Camp has served as a unique platform for cross-cultural artistic collaboration. This year’s edition returns with renewed vigor, aiming to foster creative exchange, cultural understanding, and community engagement through the universal language of art.
A Celebration of Global Creativity
The 2025 edition welcomes participating artists from countries including the USA, China, Malaysia, Indonesia, Vietnam, Canada, Cambodia, Singapore, the Philippines, Thailand, Japan, South Korea, Italy, and Romania. The official opening ceremony featured a traditional lamp lighting ceremony by senior artists Mr. Kiran Manandhar of Nepal and Mr. Katsumi Mukai of Japan, symbolically inaugurating the camp.
In his welcome speech, Mr. Susan Maharjan, Senior Vice President of LCCI, emphasized the importance of art in promoting cultural tourism and international understanding.
Adding a splash of color to the ceremony, Mr. Manandhar and Mr. Mukai jointly painted the first strokes on a communal canvas, marking the official start of the camp's creative journey. The opening program also featured a captivating Kumari Dance, delighting both national and international guests.
Nepali Artists Showcase Diversity and Vision
Nepal’s artistic excellence is represented by ten visionary artists, including:
Kiran Manandhar, renowned expressionist and MFA graduate from Benaras Hindu University
Navindra Man Rajbhandari
Lok Chitrakar
Seema Sharma Shah
Bhuwan Thapa
Sushma Shakya
Samundra Man Singh Shrestha
Sabita Dangol
Anil Shahi
Pratima Thakali
These artists span genres from traditional to conceptual, reflecting the dynamic evolution of contemporary Nepali art.
International Artists Add Global Perspective
Among the international participants are acclaimed figures such as:
Chhim Sothy (Cambodia) – merging tradition with modernity through watercolor and oil
Lisa Larson Lee (Canada/Singapore) – vibrant abstractions inspired by urban textures
Haijun Song & Liu Yi (China) – blending practice with educational leadership
Hadi Soesanto & Sulistyo Chung (Indonesia) – cultural storytelling through symbolic imagery
Kei Yasaka & Katsumi Mukai (Japan) – exploring energy and form through pigment and sculpture
Giuseppe Strano Spitu (Italy) – refined sculptural aesthetics
Ng Bee & Ng Kim Heoh (Malaysia) – nature-inspired narrative art
Fil Delacruz (Philippines) – indigenous symbolism reimagined
Eva Radu (Romania) – poetic visual storytelling
Casey Chen (Singapore) – joyful, cross-disciplinary creations
Dong Yeoun Kim (South Korea) – surreal dreamscapes
Wattanachot Tungateja & Jirawat Phirasant (Thailand) – multimedia innovation
Carolyn Muskat (USA) – master printmaker with global impact
Tran Manh Linh & Nguyen Ngoc Linh (Vietnam) – visual continuity in Vietnamese landscapes
Co-Founder of E-Arts Nepal, Mr. Asha Dangol, welcomed the guests with heartfelt gratitude, saying, “We are grateful to each artist for bringing your unique stories, styles, and spirit to this collaborative celebration.”
Upcoming Exhibition
The camp will conclude with a special art exhibition featuring works created during the week. The exhibition will be inaugurated by Lalitpur Mayor Mr. Chiribabu Maharjan on May 24, 2025, offering the public an opportunity to experience the fusion of global perspectives and Nepali heritage.
