PAINTERS

To Thinkers and Doers page - Painting by Kongpath Luangrath, Laos, 2006

Making a living from Art is a challenge in itself, but making a living from Art in developing countries is an even greater one.
My path often led me to meet artists and active art groups with whom I had the chance to get involved. These groups manage to promote art in countries where free expression is often an alien or emerging concept, and where art and its role are not yet well understood.
Through my interest in Art for Development (Art4D) I have worked at times with, and participated in activities with these groups. It was always a lot of fun and I have many great memories of activities shared with artists in Bhutan, Laos and Nepal. Some of these artists have become good friends and I hope that these few pages may trigger your interest and support for them.

HearBeat Art Group - Nepal
HeartBeat is a group of young local artists that is very active the field of art for development. Juju, the HearBeat coordinator, is primarily a sculptor and an incredibly active character and friend. He has established a strong network in the country with a wide range of NGOs involved with disadvantaged children. Through his HeartBeat initiatives, street children, orphans, children from prisons have been given enjoyable opportunities to express themselves through art and raise awareness on development issues. HeartBeat also supports social causes through the numerous art activities it runs. It partners among others with EarthBeat for Arts and Culture projects.
No website, but you can view the HeartBeat45 Blog for more information.
M.A.S.K Group of Artists - Laos
Under the motto "everyone is an artist" four friends of the Lao art scene founded the MASK art group and gallery in 2003. In 2005 they moved to Ban Naxay round the corner from where I lived in Vientiane. One of their main objectives is to promote quality Art and the understanding of Art in the Lao community. This is a challenging task in a country not used to art outside the religious sphere and not used to free expression particularly through artistic means. Together we organised a couple of successful art discovery workshops with disadvantaged children and youth in Laos capital city in an effort to provide new opportunities of expression and fun to these kids.
No website, but you can view the MASK brochure for more information.
VAST (Voluntary Artists Studio in Thimphu) - Bhutan
VAST Bhutan was conceived in 1998 by a group of artists’ as a small, independent and non-profitable art guild. It plays a very dynamic role in the field of Contemporary Art in a country where art was limited to the religious sphere. VAST is a very active group involving children and youth in artistic activities but also in environmental protection activities among others. They organise art camps, art exhibitions, help the most promising young artists in obtaining scholarships for further art studies abroad, organise cleaning campaigns on trek routes etc.
Visit the VAST Bhutan site at: http://www.vast-bhutan.org

GALLERIES

Gallery 9 - Nepal
Gallery 9 is an interesting group of nine friends from various fields: painters, photographers, but also journalists and activists. Their gallery was in Lazimpat (Kathmandu) until the building they were in was demolished. The Gallery used to host various paintings and photography exhibitions, but also talks and art workshops. The group is planing to re-open Gallery 9 in a new location.

Lotus Gallery - Nepal
Lotus Gallery is run by Santosh Gupta and Jim Aplington. While they are not painters themselves, their gallery is worth mentioning here as it hosts works by Nepali and Tibetan painters mainly. I have seen wonderful contemporary and religious paintings there. Worth a visit when you are in Kathmandu.
Visit the Lotus Gallery web site at: http://www.lotusgallerynepal.com/

INDIVIDUAL ARTISTS

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