Features
3 MIN READ
The Record is back with its mini-series of artists and the projects they worked on during the lockdown and the pandemic.
Covid-19 is alive and well in Nepal, as rising case numbers show. With a second wave engulfing India, there are fears that the same could happen in Nepal. Many are wondering if a second lockdown is in the cards but as of yet, there’s no real indication of the government implementing precautionary measures like the ones instituted last year at the beginning of the pandemic.
The four-month lockdown thus remains fresh in our memories and once again, The Record looked towards visual artists for their take on the lockdown and the pandemic with the second part of our mini-series.
ABHA DHITAL
Abha Dhital is a writer and illustrator whose works underline the everyday observations of the world outside and within her.
Title: Jacaranda
I drew this in the summer from within the constraints of home, thinking of all the jacarandas that were probably taking over Kathmandu at the time. I wondered if they were blooming in all their glory, for finally there was so little pollution. Or were they (maybe) missing the spectators who admired them as the only good thing about Kathmandu.
Title: Slack
For the last couple of years, I've felt like I never had enough time or energy for the things I love to do. During the lockdown, while under unfortunate circumstances, I had a fortunate abundance of both time and energy to do things that really feed my soul. This illustration sums it up. I read a lot and drank a lot of tea.
UBAHANG NEMBANG
Ubahang Nembang is an illustrator, graphic designer, and sometimes a writer. He loves to paint in watercolor and draw moody landscapes with water buffaloes and long-tailed kites above enormous pine forests. In his spare time, he loves to cook, drink tea, and plot stories in his head.
Title: Crown
I made this artwork during the lockdown period and it addresses my mental state, the idea of taking a deep breath, pausing and appreciating the simple things about life. Initially, it started as a crown of flora and fauna, where the autumn forest grows out of a person's head. I wanted it to be whimsical with the deer in the forest, something that was peaceful, happy, and positive. Being stuck in the house, I liked the idea of people being stuck within themselves and their thoughts literally manifesting on their heads like a halo or a crown.
SABIN BHANDARI
Sabin Bhandari is a multidisciplinary designer who works with digital and physical products. He is the co-founder of Threadpaints, Butta, and Littlethings and is currently working as a Lead/UX designer at RARA Labs.
Title: We're all anxious in here
I made this design in response to the daily anxiety most of us were feeling due to uncertainty. The first part of the illustration was to show the anxiety we were facing due to the coronavirus and the lockdown. It was a time of uncertainty in everything, from news reports to what would happen next. The second part of the illustration was more personal, I wanted to represent that we are all anxious in our own way.
Title: Leaders we deserve
This is a quick illustration that I made in response to the riot that occurred during the Rato Machhindranath jatra and our frustration at the repeated incompetency shown by both our federal and local leaders.
SRIJAN ULAK
Srijan Ulak, also known as ‘sathihandstyle’ has been doing ‘calligraffiti’ since 2016. Ulak utilizes mantras and sloks from Hindu and Tibetan sources, and also draws inspiration from different forms of nature.
Title: Letter ‘S’ wrapped around a khukuri
I drew inspiration from the ‘Enough is Enough’ movement, when a bunch of youths gathered in front of the prime minister’s residence in Baluwatar to protest against the government’s mishandling of the coronavirus crisis. I made this piece after watching videos and photos from the scene on social media. There wasn't any specific intention towards using the letter ‘S’; it’s just that it happens to be the letter I like the most.
Title: Om Mani Padme Hum
I used to take frequent visits to Boudhanath Stupa, but because of the nationwide lockdown, I was unable to visit it. This piece is just a remembrance of the times I spent at Boudha.
The Record We are an independent digital publication based in Kathmandu, Nepal. Our stories examine politics, the economy, society, and culture. We look into events both current and past, offering depth, analysis, and perspective. Explore our features, explainers, long reads, multimedia stories, and podcasts. There’s something here for everyone.
Features
7 min read
Gelje, one of the 10 men who summited K2 in the winter for the first time, is now aiming to set a record as the youngest to climb all 14 eight-thousanders.
COVID19
Features
4 min read
A steady rise in new Covid-19 cases in the past weeks proves community-level spread is here, warn public health experts, but the government remains in denial still
COVID19
Features
10 min read
Several inmates have died by suicide while many others have been hobbled by the depression and anxiety resulting from conditions inside Nepal’s ill-managed quarantine facilities
COVID19
Features
5 min read
Unless the private medical sector treats its health workers better, its institutions might soon run out of staff
Features
News
5 min read
The killing of a Dalit and his friends in Rukum reveals Nepal’s dark underbelly
Features
12 min read
For the ordinary residents of Nijgadh, the airport has already come—as the fear and uncertainty that now pervade the everyday, of being displaced and dispossessed
Features
COVID19
6 min read
A raging pandemic combined with a lockdown can greatly stress mental health. Reduce exposure to the news, eat and drink well, exercise, and seek help if necessary.
Perspectives
7 min read
The ongoing political crisis, a product of the aspirations of an authoritarian prime minister and a puppet president, risks destroying the country’s progress as a federal democracy.