Spaces Vol 1 Is 6

figurines in a spiral arrangement (where visitors were
free to take them home) was a typical display of her
inherent creativity.
ART
Three years ago, she along with a core group of seven
well known artists, founded ‘Sutra’. She says,
“Through this organization we would like to create
opportunities for free expression for younger artists.”
Ashmina is also closely associated with the Gallery
Nine Art Gallery in Lazimpat.
Her own studio is on the top floor of the Nepal Fine
Arts Association building in Naxal but she has hardly
stepped into it for the last one year for obvious
reasons. Some of her works hang around the various
rooms in the NAFA gallery and one large piece from
‘Hair Warp’ (charcoal sketch on lokta paper) is part
of the National collection. Obviously, Ashmina’s
installations, for which she is particularly famous, tend
to be of impermanent nature and so one has to wait
Facing page: ‘Shaktri Swarup-Menstrual Blood’- A
particularly bold theme.
Right: Installation art during the ‘Hair Warp’
exhibition in Kathmandu.
Below: ‘Uplift’-Asmina’s exhibit at the artist-inresidence
program in Japan.
for an exhibition to see them. However, she does have a
suggestion about ways of making them more enduring .
“Some of my installation art like ‘Shakti Sworup’ would
be just right for places like large hotel lobbies.” Born on
the 4 th of October, this Libran seems to live up to at
least something that the sign is supposed to represent- a
seeker of justice. Also- one in search of perfect balance.
Small wonder then that she believes there are two stages
of any artistic endeavour- the conceptual level and the
physical level. “The first can take a long time,” she says.
“That is why it is not easy to say how long it takes for
me to create art.” Ashmina is an artist in tune with
existing times and so truly could be said to be a
contemporary artist. And although Ashmina has gained
national fame as well as a measure of international
recognition, winning many coveted awards on the way,
she shows only the smallest signs of satisfaction.
This artist- who has won a Fullbright Fellowship to do
her M.F.A. in visual arts for the 2004/2006 session at
Columbia University in Manhattan, USA- seems to be
living a life still very much unfulfilled. This artist- who
has had exhibitions of her works displayed all over the
world- seems to be living a life full to the brim.
Contrasting words undoubtedly, but nevertheless,
quizzically true and quite appropriate to describe the life
and times of Asmina Ranjit. S
SPACES SEP-OCT 2005 29