Lainsingh Bangdel: A pioneer in Nepal’s Painting Scene

The late Lainsingh Bangdel, a famous Nepali painter and writer, played a crucial role in bringing back the idols of various important gods and goddesses that were stolen from Nepal. Bangdel published a book, ‘The Stolen Images of Nepal’. After the book was made public, some of the stolen idols mentioned in the book were returned to Nepal.

A leading painter who popularized Nepali painting to the world, a solo painting exhibition of the late Lain Singh Bangdel is being organized in the United States for the first time. The exhibition, which started on January 27, will continue till April 9. The exhibition is being organized 20 years after the death of Bangdel. There are 20 paintings of his in the exhibition.

Yeh Art Gallery, St. John's University is the launch of Lain Singh Bangdel: Moon Over Kathmandu, the first solo museum exhibition in the United States of Nepal's renowned modern artist Lain Singh Bangdel.

The painter Bangdel made a painting titled Over Kathmandu on the Moon in 1962 through oil painting on canvas. The painting is in the collection of Mervin Stevens.

Before returning to Nepal at the behest of the then King Mahendra, Bangdel spent a remarkable life associating himself with intellectual circles in Kolkata, London, and Paris.

 Bangdel was born in 1919 in Darjeeling, West Bengal, India. In 1939, he left Darjeeling tea plantation and enrolled at the famous Government College of Art and Craft in Kolkata.

After graduation, Bangdel got a job as a professional artist in a DJ firm in Kolkata. Bangdel produced pictures of daily life in Bengal, including the poor suburbs of Kolkata. He had published many novels and works focusing on writing in Nepali. Many of his literary works are now being taught at the university level in Nepal. The art and history of ancient Nepal written by him has been taught in universities across Europe and America. His solo art exhibitions were organized in France, Germany and Nepal.

He studied modern art in London and Paris. He came to Nepal at the request of the King of Nepal, lived in Nepal and died in Nepal in 2002.

 He was also once the Chancellor of the Royal Nepal Academy.