Kathmandu— Fifteen Nepali visual artists participated in a Paint and Celebrate event held at Bhaktapur Durbar Square on Sunday, commemorating the success of Abinash Bikram Shah’s film, ‘Elephants in the Fog.’ The film gained international recognition as the first Nepali production to be selected for the Un Certain Regard section of the Cannes Film Festival, where it also won a Jury Prize. Organized with support from the British Council and the French Cultural Centre in Kathmandu, the event aimed to connect different art forms and celebrate the film’s themes and journey.

Film's International Recognition

Directed by Abinash Bikram Shah, ‘Elephants in the Fog’ achieved a historic milestone for Nepali cinema by being officially selected for the Un Certain Regard section of the Cannes Film Festival. The film further distinguished itself by winning the Jury Prize within that section, garnering international acclaim and establishing a significant moment for the nation's filmmaking industry.

Artistic Inspiration and Participation

The Paint and Celebrate event drew artists from various backgrounds and regions across Nepal, including Lalitkala Campus, Kathmandu University School of Arts and Design, and cities like Sudurpaschim, Lumbini, Birgunj, and Pokhara. Painters, printmakers, and conceptual artists participated, exploring the film’s atmosphere, emotions, themes, and international journey through their individual artistic styles. Producer Anup Poudel explained that the film itself was inspired by a photograph from American photographer Nan Goldin, leading to the desire to create a platform connecting different art forms.

Diverse Artistic Approaches

Rather than directly replicating scenes from ‘Elephants in the Fog,’ the artists interpreted its underlying themes, characters, emotions, and cultural significance through their work. The resulting artworks encompassed a diverse range of styles including realism, surrealism, printmaking, textile art, and semi-abstract mixed media.

The artwork created during Sunday’s event will be exhibited at Dali-La Hotel from August 27 to 29, while the film is scheduled for release in Nepali cinemas on September 4, coinciding with the Krishna Janmashtami festival.

(With inputs from RN)

Originally published on abcnews.com.np.