Imphal, November 02: The day Salam Anilkumar landed in Nepal's capital Kathmandu to complete procedures for holding his first solo painting exhibition in December last year, he had to brave a hail of police bullets and an unruly mob because of the film star Hrithik Roshan episode.

The painter from the State had to conceal his identity and lie that he was a Nepali.

One year later, after the exhibition, Nepal's leading poet Manjul eulogized him saying "your paintings speak the language of the heart" and he was inducted as the first non-Nepali member of the prestigious Artists Society of Nepal.

Anilkumar's solo exhibition titled "Spiritual Concepts" held at NAFA Art Gallery, the former residential palace of the King of Nepal on September 15 instantly attracted international acclaim.

Seven pieces reached the hands of foreign collectors before the exhibition was held.

Still the total of 15 paintings taken by art collectors including some from Australia, Japan, Switzerland and Denmark during the show is the highest in the history of any form of painting exhibition in Kathmandu.

The exhibition saw 31 oil paintings, 11 paint and ink drawing and 31 water colour on cloth items painted by the Fine Arts degree holder from Vishwa Bharti Santiniketan.

The remaining pieces are in the collection of Everest Art Gallery and Sidartha Art Gallery, Kathmandu.

After the successful stint, Anilkumar got two contracts for a solo painting exhibition cum fashion show and another from Sidartha Art Gallery for shows in September 2002 and September 2003 respectively in Nepal which is an international hub for painters and art collectors.

He also got sponsorship rights from a Denmark firm based on meditation art.

The artist's themes for his exhibition were deities and exploitation of women in society.

Two most prominent works are the paintings of Leimaren and Atiya Guru Sidaba (supreme deities of the Meiteis).

In the former, the purification of sinners by the Goddess is depicted and in the later, the seven chakras leading to the abode of Pakhangba are shown with rebounding effect.

A collector from Denmark describes his paintings as "disturbing yet very fascinating and powerful".

The painter's wife, Manjushree, a famous singer in Nepali language said the most satisfying thing about the exhibition was the success in portraying the Meitei deities before the international audience.

On his latest venture, Anilkumar, a veteran of several State and national exhibitions, said that "it was a bid to explore self potential".

There was a time when he got frustrated and depressed as no feedback was received from the audience.

The Nepal venture is a shot in the arm, the 44 year old resident of Sagolband Salam Leikai said.

When asked how the common people should view art, he said the people should judge art by the impact (the pleasure of seeing it) without first going into the credentials of the artist.

Only then the real value of art can be determined.

Art should be left to the people's imagination, he said.

He said the State has enough talents but they have become stagnant.

They are facing lack of exposure, feedback, perseverance besides absence of art gallery.

They should not be afraid to take risk, he said urging them to hold solo exhibitions.

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