POKHARA: As many as 33 artists showcased an amalgamation of nature and culture at a painting exhibition ‘Monsoon – 2’ organized in Pokhara Art Gallery, Mahendrapul, on Saturday. The event was inaugurated by Kaski District Officer, Taranath Adhikari.

Speaking at the inaugural ceremony, Taranath said, “These paintings illustrate minute as well as some historic changes in the society and nature. Pokhara supports creative people as they have the potential to uplift the society.”

Gopal Shrestha, one of the participating artists at the exhibition, had portrayed a group of women planting paddy in a field. Though raindrops falling from the monsoon sky had drenched them from head to toe, the women didn’t seem to stop their work. Gopal said his canvas visions a piece of land from Lamachaur, Kaski.

Monsoon is the season when farmers can make plentiful harvests from a small amount of seeds. Farmers battle the rains, work in puddles and busy themselves in plantation during monsoon season. Devendra Gurung, another participating artist, had a woman trying to avoid a mud splash targeted at her in his painting. Holding a bundle of paddy saplings, the woman could be seen wiping the mud off. Devendra said he had tried to capture the beauty of Nepal in his painting.

The exhibit incorporated various aspects of monsoon, including social, natural and cultural aspects. The paintings portrayed cultural and natural facets of Pokhara during monsoon season.

Coordinator of the event, Dalbahadur Gurung, said the exhibition was held to promote Pokhara through literature, music and art. He mentioned that the objective of the exhibition was to illustrate the importance of ever changing nature and culture. “The mountains, hills, rivers and streams describe Pokhara. Nature is our identity,” he said.

The exhibition is slated to be held till July 11, where anyone can put their artwork on display free of cost.