As soon as horses in different shapes, gestures, and dimensions are seen on canvases or book covers, one can almost surely say, those are Shashi Shah’s doings! Shashi Shah and horses have become synonyms in Nepali painting. It has been decades since Shah started making the horse the central essence of his painting, and yet, he seems to have uncountable models of horses in his mind, for newer horses pop out of his brush every day.
The placid, amicable and silent personality of Shashi Shah, devoid of any sort of pride or vanity, has, over the decades, grown to become a representative figure in the history of Nepali art. The horse, for him, is a metaphor of dynamism in life, and through it, he tries to read the subtle mysteries of creation and time. As soon as strong lines, galloping horses and artistic finery convene, the horses of Shah’s creation start neighing and moving towards their destination. He perhaps imagines his horses to shake people out of their laziness or sleep and hone them towards their goals.
A retired professor of art, Shah has devoted his entire life to painting. From 1969 to 1982, he was professor of art at Nepal College of Fine Arts. After this, he worked as Chief of the College for eleven long years. He also has served a term of five years as an Academic Council member of the Nepal Academy. He also worked as Principal of Sirjana College of Arts, though he has abandoned that responsibility now.
In 1992, a solo exhibition of his paintings was held at an exhibition hall in Jamal. The exhibition was hailed as one of the best of its kind. In 2001, a group of art critics held with him an interaction, in which Shah discussed at length about his life as an artist. It was at this time he revealed the secrecy behind his choice of horses as his symbols, which he had invented for the first time in his Kalki Avatar series of painting. For him, the horse is a symbol of the sun. All planets in the solar system derive energy from the sun. Let’s imagine a universe without the sun. Planets, including the earth, that revolve around the sun, will be destroyed in no time. The sun is also considered the first of the gods. Seven horses are attached to the chariot that carry the Sun God, as mentioned in Hindu mythologies.
Another significance of the horse lies as the Kalki Avatar. At moments of crisis, we run the fear of seeing the entire world destroyed. When that happens, Lord Kalki arrives, mounted on a white horse, to save the world.
Shashi Shah was one of the founders of SKIB 71, an organization working in the field of art. Other members were Krishna Manandhar, Indra Pradhan and Batsa Gopal Baidhya, all four being alumni of Sir J.J. School of Arts, Mumbai.
Shah, born in Bhotebahal of Kathmandu in the spring of the year 1940, is one of the living legends and exponents of Nepali art. For his excellent creations and commendable contributions, he has been decorated with various honors and awards, some of the prominent ones being Indra Laxmi Pragya Award, National Talent Award, Bhairav Award, Surendra Pradhan Art Honor, etc.