Manish Dhoju

Born in 1999, Manish is currently a student of architecture at the Pulchowk Campus of Tribhuvan University, but his passion is the art of realism. This perhaps less familiar form art relies on the execution of his talents in drawing an image that looks almost as if it were a photograph. From a distance one might easily consider his images are taken with a camera, but look a little closer and it’s clear the pen of an artist is at work. The photograph portrays the real world, but the drawing reflects a more complex reality. 
His roots are from the rural farming community of Bhaktapur and, like many families, the land is now being consumed by development to accommodate the rising population of the valley.
As a student of architecture and with a passion for Newari art, he is keen to integrate these two themes in his future work. He feels that for many there is a lack of respect across the community at large, which is consumed by the need to survive the urban life that shuts the door to an appreciation of what is being lost. Some of his images seek to address this conundrum, by prompting the viewer not only to respect his contemporary drawing, but also the work of the original craftsman who created the piece so many years ago. 
As a young child he did not have a particularly strong passion for the watercolour that he was taught at school. His artistic flair developed around the time of 5th grade, and later at Bachelor level he taught himself charcoal and graphite. He readily admits that his interest was aroused by looking on the internet as it opened new windows on a world beyond the valley. “If they can do it, then so can I!” became a mantra and inspiration to go further; he was and still is determined to be always top of the class. He considers he is only half way along this path, despite the fact that some are suggesting he is already a ‘hyper-realist’ on his artistic journey.