Uma Shankar Shah Ramayan Works

Uma Shankar Shah (b. 1965) is widely regarded as one of Nepal’s foremost artists. Born in Janakpur, the birthplace of Goddess Janaki, daughter of King Janak who was married to Shri Ram, son of King Dashrath of Ayodhya, Shah’s early life unfolded amidst sacred geography, devotional hymns, folktales, and living oral traditions. Drawing from the Ramayana tales narrated by his grandparents, his practice attempts to blend the modern with the traditional, fusing contemporary techniques with folk motifs and ancient iconography.

Different episodes of the Ramayana, along with Awadhi typography and dramatic colour contrast, give the work a cinematic intensity. His long works can feel like watching the story in a village ‘Dabba Cinema’, where each inch surprises you, amazes you, and teaches you, leaving a lasting narrative impact on the viewer’s mind. The flow is such that it makes you wonder what’s next. The colours, figures, episodes, and composition hold you, just like this eternal story.

Shah draws inspiration from traditional Maithili art forms and uses imagery from folk traditions to portray Shri Ram and Sita coming together and to capture the emotion of their union. In Maithili tradition, pairs of fish symbolise love. The “kohabar,” or nuptial chamber, is traditionally decorated with animals, birds, and mermaids painted on the walls of the honeymoon room, elements he incorporates into his works.

This series is created using etching, combined with the woodblock printing technique popular in Kathmandu. In this method, a carved wood block is used to produce a print, which is then hand-painted. By painting over the etching-block prints, Shah aims to preserve and sustain this ancient artistic practice, which is gradually fading in a rapidly modernising world.