Jeevit, the artist

I worked in Saudi Arabia between 2006 and 2017 as an artist. After failing to establish myself in Nepal in my area of work, I remigrated to the UAE in 2019, where I now work as a decorative artist. 

In Saudi Arabia, I chose the art pieces I worked on, mostly in the luxurious palaces of wealthy families. In the UAE, I have less say in the art pieces I work on, as they are assigned based on client demands.

Growing up, I was never interested in household chores, only in art and painting, which I felt I was born for. I believe each of us has an area that is our calling. For me, it is art. As a student, I would subconsciously scrawl drawings in my notebooks. I then started making art on the walls of my house—portraits of my grandfather and livestock, among others.

This passion for art came from within me, but I later decided to formally pursue it. My attempts to do so in Kathmandu and Lucknow (India) failed as I wandered aimlessly in these cities trying to find a foothold. It was only when I was working at a Chitwan-based art shop that Prakash Thapa, a senior artist and my mentor, advised me to study art at Lalit Kala Campus. This allowed me to explore my passion further.

While I have experience painting art pieces on the walls of some of the most luxurious palaces in the Middle East,  I come from a very humble beginning. I recall how I used to make paintbrushes using the tail hair of cows and create art using kamero mato. It was a simpler time; we did not have access to cameras to capture my creations. Those art pieces I made on the walls of my house are now just etched in my memory.

‍

‍

Khadak, the singer (currently in Malaysia)

Everyone experiences pain, but not everyone can express it well. Some express their pain through literature,others through tears. I do so through songs. I have never considered myself a good singer. I used to sing in gatherings or while grazing cattle. My peers would tell me to sing, saying I have a good voice. No one told me to be a singer, though. I never aimed to be a singer either, but I used to practice while grazing my cattle. I wrote songs when I felt like it, and have written quite a few over the years.

If you have money, everything is possible. If not, nothing is. When family responsibilities start taking over, hobbies and passions like singing take a backseat. It is difficult and expensive to come to the city to record songs. It is also not practical or beneficial to record songs with borrowed money.

These emotions remain in my heart. And hence,the song "Mann ka Kura", a song I had written three years ago. Now I am happy I finally got to record it.

Listen to Khadak's song:

‍

‍

‍