Nawalpur’s Lens Based Residency Program caters to Nepali photographers and videographers to create work based on village life. The program emphasizes celebrating the essence of Tharu village life in Nawalpur, serving as a symbol of courage, grace, beauty, and preservation. The program provides selected residents with access to a creative space in Nawalpur to reflect, think critically, and engage in activities while immersed in a local environment with indigenous Tharu people and their culture.

The Unnati Cultural Village is a unique initiative of the Chaudhary Foundation that fuels the evolution of heritage, multidisciplinary arts, crafts and living knowledge systems of Nepal, through its harnessing, preservation, promotion and resultant economic growth.

Unnati’s philosophy of revival of national heritage through forms of arts, dance music, literature, cuisine and traditional habitat is intended to bring the past into the present. It is a sustainable creation of cultural wealth and artistic endeavor that speaks both to the traditional as well as the contemporary. The intention is to incubate a program that is sensitive and holistic.

Genesis Of Divine (G.O.D)
Curated by Roshan Bhandari

UNNATI, a unique initiative by the Chaudhary Foundation, caters to the economic growth, evolution of heritage, and living knowledge systems of Nepal. As the abbreviation suggests, it is the focal point for Upscaling National, Natural, Artistic, and Traditional Industries. UNNATI’s philosophy of revival entails the survival of national heritage through forms of arts, crafts, dance, music, foods, language, and habitat, encompassing the philosophy of life by which civilizations once thrived in culture and traditions. The essence is to bring the lost and found, old and new, back into our everyday lives.

Nepal flourishes as a nurturing hub for diverse artistic expressions, and the Unnati serves as a program under the Chaudhary Foundation for preserving these vital forms within the realms of heritage and cultural protection. It provides a platform for a wide range of artistic initiatives, including visual arts, literature, music, dance, theatre, and more. These expressions, which are inextricably linked to Nepal’s cultural essence, spread their influence throughout South Asia, fostering a shared cultural bond.

The “Genesis of Divine” in Nepali art is a detailed study of how divinity is conceptualized, expressed, and experienced via diverse artistic mediums. From ancient history, traditional practices of art, monuments, sculptures and paintings to contemporary artistic manifestations, Nepali art provides a rich and diversified depiction of the divine that is strongly anchored in the country’s cultural and spiritual legacy. Nepal’s vibrant art reflects the country’s rich cultural past as well as the expertise of its artists. The delicate intricacies of stories that are profoundly ingrained in traditional and cultural contexts are explored, investigated, and reflected upon by six Nepali artists.

Presented by Unnati Cultural Village, this group art exhibition aims to encourage, promote, and provide a platform for Nepal’s budding contemporary artists. The exhibition explores Nepali modern, exploratory, socio-cultural, traditional, and contemporary art, weaving a compelling visual narrative of everyday life and addressing pertinent issues. Nepal’s rich cultural heritage—spanning the Himalayas, Hills, and Terai—offers diverse languages, traditions, and artistic expressions, all of which are reflected in this showcase. The featured artworks highlight the aesthetic essence of contemporary, modern, and postmodern Nepali art, emphasizing its cultural and artistic values. The exhibition is open for two months from 26th Oct to 26th Dec 2024 at the UCV Gallery, Unnati Cultural Village, Harkapur, Nawalparasi, and features the works of 13 young contemporary Nepali artists, aged between 20 and 35 years.

“Resonance of Hues” is a group art exhibition that supports, promotes, and provides a platform for Nepal’s traditional and modern artists. It discusses Nepali culture, traditions, and rituals while providing an interesting visual story of everyday life and socio-cultural elements. Nepal is rich in cultural values, folk tales, art, and music that vary from east to west and north to south of the country. The Himalayas, Hills, and Terai have unique cultural traditions and his

The Unnati Cultural Village is a unique initiative of the Chaudhary Foundation that fuels the evolution of heritage, multidisciplinary arts, crafts and living knowledge systems of Nepal, through its harnessing, preservation, promotion and resultant economic growth. Unnati’s philosophy of revival of national heritage through forms of arts, dance, music, literature, cuisine and traditional habitat is intended to bring the past into the present. It is a sustainable creation of cultural wealth and artistic endeavor that speaks both to the traditional as well as the contemporary. The intention is to incubate a program that is sensitive and holistic.

The Himalayan region of Nepal is a land of warm, hardy, and gracious people from many ethnic cultures who are nestled among the lofty mountains of the expansive Himalayas. The cultural heritage of the Nepalese is extremely nuanced and layered.

It is this layering and complexity that the artists of Aakrit Collective explore through their works. They look into the narratives of Migration, Memory, and Continuity, combined with the technique and the relation of style with both the contemporary and the traditional. It is these components that artists explore presenting the larger picture of Nepal and its socio-political scenario.

The inauguration of Unnati Cultural Village was a grand affair, featuring captivating dance, theatre, and music performances. The atmosphere resonated with the spirit of celebration as Fineprints hosted a Book Festival, introducing the talented writers behind all books published during the calendar of 2077 BS.

The Unnati Cultural Village is a unique initiative of the Chaudhary Foundation that fuels the evolution of heritage, multidisciplinary arts, crafts and living knowledge systems of Nepal, through its harnessing, preservation, promotion and resultant economic growth. Unnati’s philosophy of revival of national heritage through forms of arts, dance music, literature, cuisine and traditional habitat is intended to bring the past into the present. It is a sustainable creation of cultural wealth and artistic endeavor that speaks both to the traditional as well as the contemporary. The intention is to incubate a program that is sensitive and holistic.

The modern world is extremely fast-paced and con-sumed with personal lives. With this changing age, we are becoming more self-centred and moving from a collective “we” sense to “me and mine”, losing our indi-viduality in the art of life.

People are becoming increasingly distracted, fleeing from responsibilities to preserve mother nature and culture. I, therefore, feel that we must connect our souls with nature, which helps us to maintain peace and live a balanced life. These are the canvases I have created out of my thoughts – a collection of paintings on different topics. I hope that everyone gets to realize the worth of life from the perspective of nature.

The exhibition, thoughtfully curated, featured artworks dedicated to women, weaving a narrative that celebrated their evolution. Through various mediums, the artists captured the essence of femininity, presenting a poignant reflection on the diverse roles and stories of women in Nepali society.