Stepping inside the work of artist Sharmila Shahi Faiia, you are taken into a world of Asian gods, goddesses and philosophies. Using bold colors, the painter brings to life a culture of spirituality, one that is aesthetically pleasing in the form of detailed oriental designs and symbolism.
Much of her work is done using sharp geometric designs incorporated into her theme. Some of her work uses water colors and oils but most use gallant acrylics.
Sharmila is from the Kathmandu valley in Nepal, an area that was ruled by her tribe, Newar. The petite woman has a smile that lights up her face. Her shyness reflects a humble and gracious personality.
The Nepali artist is opening her new exhibition this Sunday on the occasion of the Golden Jubilee Anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Nepal and Egypt.
The exhibition is collaboration between the Ambassador of Nepal to Egypt Rambhakta P.B Thakur and First Under Secretary of State and Head of Sector of Foreign Culture Relations Salah Hassan Al Naby.
A dancing Sheba, child monks and Buddha heads are the subjects of many of her paintings. Alongside the obvious religious connotations, many are purely cultural portrayals that are a throwback to the artist’s days as a professional dancer.
Sharmila started dancing at the age of eight, and performed both folk and classical styles for many years in Nepal.
Many performances later, and after graduating from university, she moved away from the art scene and pursued a career in financial administration for large organizations like Care and the United Nations Development Program.
More than 10 years later, after moving to Nairobi because of her husband Scott’s job, Sharmila met an Indian dance instructor who encouraged her to return to the arts. Together they performed to raise money for charity, concentrating mostly on fundraising for education.
A few years later, Scott was relocated again, this time to Sri Lanka. Although Sharmila left dancing behind in Nairobi, she was about to discover a new, hidden talent.
“Humidity [in Sri Lanka] left me with no energy to dance. But I had to do something, so my husband encouraged me to study painting. From my childhood I knew I had the talent to draw, but I never thought I would be a painter, she told Daily News Egypt.
For two years she studied art on an average of six hours a day. That s when the deadly tsunami hit the country in December 2004. Everyone tried to contribute in any way they could. Sharmila helped in her own way by putting together relief packages for the victims, but she felt she wanted to do more.
She told her art teacher she wanted to put together an exhibition to collect money for the victims of the disaster, although she was still not confident enough about her work. Impressed by her good intentions, he assured Sharmila that the level of her work was already good enough to exhibit.
One month later, Sharmila held her first exhibition at Galle Face Hotel Gallery in Colombo, Sri Lanka in February 2005 entitled “God with Us. She sold eight of her paintings and donated all of the proceeds to the victims of the tsunami.
Today, Sharmila lives in Cairo with her husband, who is the country director of Care, and their son Santosh – whose name means contentment.
How long they are staying and where they will go next is still a mystery. “This nomadic life is always uncertain, says Scott jokingly. Wherever they end up, Sharmila many artisitc talents are sure to flourish.
The Egyptian Center for International Culture Cooperation 11 Shagaret El Dorr St., Zamalek. Cairo. (02) 2736 5419Sunday Sept. 9, 8 pm Exhibitions open until Sept.12
