Framing Ghandruk on Canvas

For a week, 35 second-year BFA students from Kathmandu University’s Department of Art and Design traded the structured studios of Hattiban for the cobblestone alleys of Kaski. Under the guidance of faculty members Nabendra Limbu and Gopal Ale Magar, this educational art tour wasn’t merely about capturing the dramatic shadows of Machhapuchhre or the crisp morning posture of Annapurna South. It was an exercise in slowing down—sitting on stone steps, observing the steady rhythm of a Gurung settlement, and translating the warmth of mountain hospitality directly into pigment.

The resulting collection, titled "Impressions from Ghandruk," is presented by Nyano Space and hosted at Gallery Mcube. Curator Manish Lal Shrestha notes that the exhibit documents a critical phase in these young creators' journeys, highlighting how live, on-site watercolor practice shapes their evolving visual language and artistic sensitivity.

The Palette of Everyday Life

Unlike studio work generated from cold digital photographs, these watercolors hold the true atmosphere of the highlands. The collection features intimate, expressive snapshots of Ghandruk's daily reality: the texture of slate roofs, the architecture of traditional stone houses, and the quiet interactions of a community living at 2,012 meters. By painting outdoors amidst the daily village hustle, the students have managed to trap the genuine light, altitude, and spirit of the region on paper.

Event Details

If you want to experience the sights of the Annapurna trail without the five-hour bumpy jeep ride from Pokhara, the full logistics for the exhibition are detailed below: