Under the Young Artist Residency Program, Gallery Mcube has brought together the works of two artists, Suresh Maharjan and Rubi Maharjan. Titled ‘Mcube Young Artists Residency Exhibition 2024’ the gallery displays Suresh’s ‘Chaap’ series and Rubi’s ‘Stringing Dimensions’ series.

About the exhibitions, curator and founder of the gallery Manish Lal Shrestha says, “The residential grants offered a conducive environment for the artists’ creative exploration, enabling them to delve into their unique approaches with passion and dedication.”

Walking inside the first floor of the gallery, Suresh’s unique artworks make an intriguing first impression. In the series ‘Chaap’, we see his experimental work where he makes his own stamp symbols and pastes them on Nepali paper.

“They are more than just small pieces of paper; they are symbols of culture, history and communication influenced by the daily lives of people,” says Suresh, talking about the wide usage of Chaaps in our daily lives. Everywhere we go to get some official work done, the work is incomplete without a stamp. Every certificate, every letter, every bill and any kind of official document needs a stamp and Suresh says they are one of the most crucial parts of our modern life.

“The unique symbol engraved on each Chaap is a representation of an individual’s identity and its usage in their digital lives,” he explains. In the modern world which is becoming increasingly digital, we are becoming more dependent towards them. We see symbols like ‘@’ and ‘#’ everywhere. Inspired by this, Suresh has made stamps of these symbols—modifying them a little to suit his taste.

“I am not a technology guy,” he says. “I am still not familiar with most of the tech terminologies and this is my way of expressing how I feel about them,” he adds. In the middle section of the gallery, there is a lion-like figure made entirely of these unique symbols. Suresh says he visualised creating something powerful by using his symbols. “A lion is definitely a symbol of power,” he says, standing in front of the artwork.

During his residency, he indulged in the art of Chaap-making, which was not only enjoyable but also an exciting experience for him. “It’s amazing how such a small object can hold such incredible importance in our lives,” he reflects.

Passionate about the world of artwork, Suresh has served as a production manager as well as a consultant for workshops and art exhibitions organised by institutions such as Kathmandu Triennale, Photo Circle and British Council. “I want to keep creating and contributing to the art community,” he says.

Another interesting installation in the Chaap series is the birth certificate of his exhibition. When Suresh found out that his artworks were going to be displayed in the gallery, he went to the priest and demanded a birth certificate be made for ‘Chaap’. This peculiar piece of document is the first installation viewers see inside the exhibition.

Another artist whose artworks have graced the gallery is Rubi. Based in Lalitpur, she is a visual artist and co-founder of Aart Tsom. She specialises in printmaking, drawing and installation.

Her series, ‘Stringing Dimensions’, offers a unique perspective on the interconnectedness of art, science and family. Rubi, who has a background in science, is incredibly passionate about the subject and about turning science into art.

“This collection represents my artistic exploration of theoretical concepts of string theory where minuscule vibrating strings are the building blocks of the universe, giving rise to various particles and forces,” she says. Her unique style connects humanity and scientific phenomena, focusing on microorganisms.

These portrayals of microorganisms are evident in her artworks. ‘Stringing Dimensions’ is related to the string theory, she says. “According to this theory, every little organism to something as bigger as the sun is made up of energy.” The theory says that the building block of everything in the universe is strings or energy and she has portrayed this theme in her artworks.

“This collection represents my artistic exploration of theoretical concepts of string theory, where minuscule vibrating strings are the building blocks of the

universe, giving rise to various particles and forces,” she explains.

There are also various sculptures. “I collaborated with my father, who has been a craftsman for over 40 years, to make these sculptures,” she shares. This was a full circle moment for Rubi, who used to help her father in his work when she was younger. Now, she applies techniques taught by him while creating her artwork.

This experience of working alongside her father allowed for a unique exchange of knowledge and skills, and sparked meaningful conversations about the family’s artistic legacy spanning generations.

Such portrayal of the thematic exploration adds a unique depth to works by Rubi, who has participated in various exhibitions, residencies and workshops, including the Young Artists Show 2023.

On Rubi’s work, curator Shrestha says, “She has employed the intricate craft of metal relief, a homage to her familial artistic heritage, demonstrating a remarkable synthesis of tradition and innovation.”

Shrestha adds, “Suresh’s unveiling of a series of prints, which he has created by infusing his work with cultural resonance and storytelling, is touching and interesting.” The gallery’s commitment to nurturing artistic ideologies is evident in the tailored support provided to artists like Suresh and Rubi.

The exhibition will be on display till March 25, every day from 11:00 am to 7:00 pm at Gallery Mcube, Chakupat, Lalitpur.