Nepali times in traditional art

The greatest attribute of Sharma's paintings is his imaginative recreation of the past.

A remarkably printed forthcoming book of paintings with a long title Nepal Down the Ages: Glimpses of Nepali History, Culture and Lifestyle in Paintings priced at Rs24,000 drew my attention at Mandala Book Point the other day. A familiar Nepali painter named Hari Prasad Sharma executed these paintings in traditional style at different times. It has been published by Adarsh Books in New Delhi. I must confess I had not seen earlier an oeuvre of a Nepali painter printed in such shape, size and style. The little textured feel of the paper, the gloss and shade of colour in the background gives each painting an impression of original canvas. Each painting is meticulously printed by properly defining the field of action. Language editors explain the motif of each painting on the opposite full page in English, Nepali and Newar languages. The very heavy weight of the elongated clothbound hardcover book, one can easily see, is designed like, as the cliché goes, a coffee table book.