Arjun Kumar Rai (Khaling)

Born in Juving-6, Solukhumbu, he completed his BFA and MFA from Fine Art College T.U. and received training from Nepa Gallery and Renesha Institute of Fine Art. He has participated in many group art exhibition, taught in various schools and has judged many art programs. He has won prizes in many forums including Mahendra Bidhyabhushan ‘Ga’ by Government of Nepal, Special Prize (Modern Painting) in National Art and Craft Exhibition organized by NAFA 2068, Rajbir Smriti Sahitya Kala Puraskar and 2070, USA Embassy Award, Nepal. He was equally active in literature and has published poems and writings multiple times, selected books by him are Surya Dadhirahechha Nirantar Nepali Poem Collection Published by Chomolungma Prathistan Nepal, Ankuran Lyrics Nepali Group Music Album published by Chomolungma Prathistan Nepal, Yashoda, Lyrics Contemporary Nepali Songs, Matribhasha Kawita Sangalo (Mother Language Group Poetry Collection) published by Nepal Academy. He passed away in the year 2017 A.D.

Dim colors aligned with bright ones in his paintings and human figures almost seem melting in traditional attires. These figures are surrounded with modern objects and appliances; his paintings seem like unresolved pieces from a dream searching for their adjoining parts. Yet the onlooker would quite simply imagine that the bigger picture of the painting is a question- how is the traditional culture and modern lifestyles relevant to each other? Therefore, with the content and also the imageries that his artworks offer to us, they indeed appear like a continuous dream; a tussle between the ancient and the modernity.

Indeed, his works are like dreams where ancient meets the modern with precision. Lights seem to glow and extinguish all at the same time in a singular plane as an amalgamation of dim and bright portions on his canvas. This effect only a dreamer can bring into reality. And Arjun was a dreamer who showed the onlooker more than that just meets the eye.