Mundane objects always speak to me. I always try to find meaning in mundane objects and find the beauty within them. My whole practice is about elevating common and neglected objects and appreciating them the way they are. Sometimes, they need little transformation and I strive to maintain their realness and original aesthetics, in other instances the transformation is more dramatic. I have always been drawn to mundane objects and seen potentiality far beyond their commercial values.

My exploration with these burlap rice bags began with my journey at the School of Art Institute of Chicago (SAIC). I always wanted to explore this material since I had first encountered them in 2011. Rice itself is a thing that makes me nostalgic, but these burlap rice bags are something different. In the case of rice bags, it engages all my senses through the texture of burlap when I touch and see them, the smell that comes from bags. It also reminds me of all the labor involved from the cultivation of rice farmers to workers making burlap rice bags from jute. To appreciate this labor, I added my labor by taking the bags apart and hand stitching them together in a different composition. I tried to understand and investigate the objects through an initial deconstruction; by ripping them apart and taking every single component that can be separated from rice bags. From each bag, I was able to get different elements such as bag handles, zipper, jute thread, rice label, plastic package, rice grains, and big burlap pieces. Once this exploration through destruction is complete, I re-assemble these pieces in novel ways.

Academic Qualifications

Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA) – Painting/Sculpture, School of the Art Institute of Chicago (SAIC), Chicago, IL. USA.

Associate in Fine Arts (AFA) – Studio Art, Harold Washington College, Chicago, IL. USA.

Intermediate in Fine Arts (IFA) – Painting, Lalitkala Campus, Bhotahiti. Kathmandu, Nepal.

Intermediate in Commerce (I Com) – Nepal Commerce Campus, Minbhaban, Baneshwor. Kathmandu, Nepal. 

Fellowships

2014​ Curatorial Fellow – Andrew W. Mellon Summer Academy, Art Institute of Chicago, Chicago, IL. USA.

Scholarships

2018​ Presidential Scholarship (Merit Base), BFA The School of Art Institute of Chicago (SAIC)

2018​ Phi Theta Kappa (PTK) Scholarship 

Solo Exhibition

2017 ​Emotional Walls from Nepal
Heartland Cafe, Chicago, IL, USA.

2016​ Emotional Walls… what’s left behind…
The Taragaon Museum, Hyatt Regency, Kathmandu, Nepal.

​Rusted Impression
Bikalpa Art Center (BAC), Pulchowk, Lalitpur, Kathmandu, Nepal.

2015​ Nepal Recovery Art Exhibition (Fundraise Art Exhibition)
University of Chicago, Chicago, IL, USA.

2011 ​Behind Closed Doors
Park Gallery, Pulchowk, Lalitpur, Kathmandu, Nepal.

2010   ​Site Specific Work, at Shegal
Kalalaya Art School, Kathmandu, Nepal. 

Group Exhibition

2020​ Group Show, Eastern Illinois University (EIU), Tarble Arts Center
Charleston, IL. USA.

​REGARDING SCULPTURE, Indiana University Northwest, School of the Arts, Savannah Center
Gary, IN. USA.

2019​ SAIC BFA SHOW, The School of the Art Institute of Chicago, Sullivan Gallery
Chicago, IL. USA.

2018​ 81st Exhibition of Painting and Sculpture, The Polish Museum of America
(The Polish Arts Club of Chicago)Chicago, IL, USA.

ART BASH, The LeRoy Neiman Center (SAIC)
Chicago, IL, USA.

2017 ​Creature comforts, International Art Group, Second Story Studio Gallery
Chicago, IL, USA.

Community College Juried Student Exhibition, Fine Arts Building, Northeastern Illinois University (NEIU)
Chicago, IL, USA.

80th Exhibition of Painting and Sculpture, The Polish Museum of America
​(The Polish Arts Club of Chicago), Chicago, IL, USA.

​19th Annual Exhibition, Department of Art and Architecture – Harold Washington College
Chicago, IL, USA.

Culture Bridge 2017, International Art Group, DANK-HAUS German Cultural Center
Chicago, IL, USA.

2016​ Open Studio Exhibition, Bikalpa Art Center (BAC)
Jhamsikhel, Lalitpur, Nepal.

“WONDER” Group Art Show, Chicago Art Department (CAD)
Chicago, IL, USA.

​Art Walkathon “Art in Every Village”, Nepal Art Council (NAC)
Babarmahal, Kathmandu, Nepal.

2015​ Cultural Exchange Exhibition (Link), Cultural Center “El Refugio”
Tlaquepaque, Jal, Mexico.

​1st OPEN Center for the Arts Anniversary Fundraiser, OPEN Center for the Arts
Chicago, IL, USA.

2014​ Who Is Afraid of Red!, Studio Oh!
Chicago, IL, USA.

1st Annual OPEN Exhibition, OPEN Center for the Arts
Chicago, IL, USA.

16th Annual Exhibition, Department of Art and Architecture – HWC

(Juried by – Abigail Satinsky, Associate Director of Threewalls)
Chicago, IL, USA.

​“Animals” HWC Student Art Show (Humanifest’Oh Festival), Fine Art Integration Committee, FAIC
Chicago, IL, USA.

2013​ Convergence/Divergence, Chicago Art Department (CAD)
Chicago, IL, USA.

​Experimental Media and Performance, Bikalpa Art Center (BAC)
Jhamsikhel, Lalitpur, Nepal.

2012​ Semester End Show [SAIC Building],
SAIC, Chicago, IL, USA.

2011​ National Fine Arts Exhibition, 2068, Nepal Academy of Fine Art, NAFA
BalMandir, Naxal, Kathmandu, Nepal.

2006 ​2nd Annual Art Exhibition, a connection …with you II…, Oath present, Nepal Art Council
Babarmahal, Kathmandu, Nepal. 

2004 ​1st Annual Art Exhibition, a connection …with you I…, Oath present, Gallery Nine
Lazimpat, Kathmandu, Nepal.

2002​Valley Community Exhibition, Commercial Artist Association Nepal, (CAAN), Nepal Art Council
Babarmahal, Kathmandu, Nepal.

​2nd Juddha Kala, Zero Century Nepal, Nepal Art Council (NAC)
Babarmahal, Kathmandu, Nepal.

2001 ​1st Juddha Kala, Zero Century Nepal, Nepal Art Council (NAC)
Babarmahal, Kathmandu, Nepal.

​Workshop Art Exhibition, Commercial Artist Association Nepal, (CAAN), Nepal Art Council
Babarmahal, Kathmandu, Nepal.

Awards

2017 ​3st Place, Community College Juried Student Exhibition, Northeastern Illinois University (NEIU)
Chicago, IL, USA.

​Honorable Mention, 80th Exhibition of Painting and Sculpture, The Polish Museum of America
Chicago, IL, USA.

​Juror’s Award, 19th Annual Exhibition, Department of Art and Architecture – Harold Washington Co.
Chicago, IL, USA.

2002 ​1st Prize, 2nd Judda Kala, Zero Century Nepal
Nepal Art Council, Babarmahal, Kathmandu, Nepal. 

Workshops / Residencies

2016 ​Printmaking Residency
Bikalpa Art Center, Kathmandu, Nepal.

2013 ​Artist in Residency Program, Experimental Media and Performance
Bikalpa Art Center, Kathmandu, Nepal.

2010    Site Specific Work, at Shegal
Kalalaya Art School, Kathmandu, Nepal.

2001 ​Landscape Workshop, Commercial Artist Association Nepal, (CAAN) Sankhu, Kathmandu, Nepal.