Bhairaj Maharjan (1971)
Bachelor’s Degree in Fine Art, Fine Art College, Nepal
Bhairaj Maharjan depicts the feeling and mood of monks. As a response to violent political events, he turns toward Buddhist way of life for comfort and consolation. The images and figures of ancient Nepali sculptures and paintings also get space in his works. Among them, Bhairaj reintegrates the images related to the spiritual journey of the Buddha and his meditation. As in the manuscript illuminations, verbal texts in Tibetan script are put together with visual images of meditating Buddhas. He also shares decorative images from early arts. In addition to the central images in foreground, the texture and the background provide immediate aesthetic sense. The images in the painting the texture of real stone in some parts of his paintings. His present series is on sociopolitical issues. Such as rebuilding relationship is on the theme of India’s blocked right after earthquake in 2015. Some paintings are on historic murals which is almost disappeared because of earthquake, which take place every 80/90 years in Nepal and He is fascinated to paint on woman’s empowerment and pollution issues too.
Since 1991, Bhairaj has been participating in more than 80 National and International group shows. He has participated in more than 45 art workshops and art camps in Kathmandu, Sri Lanka, Bhutan, Indonesia and China. He has had 5 solo painting exhibitions to his credit and has been awarded including Best Award in Greeting card competition in 1994 and best field work in 2D animation in 2005. He is awarded for first position in the National Art Exhibition in 2004 and Gold Medal from Arniko Youth Service Trust in 2009. He is winner of 10th Eastern Region Art competition / Exhibition in Painting in Professional Category, Kolkata, India in 2009. He is honored by Jyapoo Society of Lalitpur, Nepal in 2010. He has traveled in India, USA, Sri Lanka, Bhutan, Italy, France, Germany Holland, Indonesia, Malaysia