The 2nd International Watercolor Festival kicked off in Kathmandu Monday.
The event is organized by the International Watercolor Society, Nepal. The festival commenced at the Babarmahal-based Nepal Art Council exhibits 270 watercolor works executed on paper by artists from several 38 countries.
Thirteen artists from home and abroad executed their works on the spot in the opening day. The festival has the participation of artists from Nepal, America, India, Bangladesh, Albania, Australia, Mongolia, the UK, China and Germany. It will run until November 9.
Special programs are taking place in Lumbini on Tuesday and Wednesday as part of the festival. Artists will present their works on canvas in Lumbini and an art workshop will be held there, society chair NB Gurung said.
The society organized the first festival in Ghandruk, Kaski some two years ago. It is the branch of International Water Society (IWS) established in 2012 AD with a view to reviving the water color vanishing of late from the world. The event has so far expanded to 90 countries. The Nepal branch was established in 2014.
Inaugurating the festival, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Defence, Ishwor Pokhrel expressed his hope that this type of event would be helpful in promoting the tourism in Nepal. "Nepal is naturally a picturesque country," he said, adding that this could be an important event for Nepalis to promote the country and its natural beauty through the means of art.
As told by society General Secretary Deependraman Banepali, to make foreign tourists known about Nepal's natural beauty and tourism remained as one of the objectives of the festival.
