KATHMANDU: Yeti Distillery announced a creative collaboration with renowned Paubha artist Lok Chitrakar.
This creative partnership features the artwork, ‘Barahmase Flowers’, referring to flowers which bloom for 12 months, in Nepali, created by Lok Chitrakar for the recently launched Old Durbar 12 Years Old Blended Scotch Whisky.
Inspired by Kamala Shrestha’s poem ‘Katti Ko Dukha Dinchhau Krishna’, the artwork features 20 flowers mentioned in Shrestha’s piece. The flowers include Laligurans (rhododendron), Godawari, Gulaf (rose), Champa, and Chameli to name a few, and are printed around the Old Durbar 12 Years Old Blended Scotch Whisky bottle.
Globally recognised as a master of the traditional Paubha art form, Chitrakar completed his first painting at the age of 12. His work is heavily influenced by classical texts, traditions and historical architecture. He also preserves the ancient practice of using paint from natural pigments ground from different stones and plant matter. He has exhibited around the world and was awarded the Rastriya Pratibha Puraskar in 2013 by the Ministry of Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation.
“Lok Chitrakar’s reputation speaks for itself, and partnering with him is a special moment for the company and our brand. His art and methods are valued by not just the art community but also the general public. What he has done for the art scene in Nepal is second to none,” Abhishek Shrestha, Managing Director of Yeti Distillery, said about the collaboration. “The art he has created for this collaboration is truly unique, and we could not be more proud of how it has turned out”.
“The artwork I have created for Old Durbar represents various flowers that bloom throughout 12 months in Nepal. Flowers give unconditional love to humans without asking for anything in return. They give us joy, scents, colours and medicinal properties too. Barahmase flowers depict the endless love and joy flowers provide to everyone, every year”, said the Paubha artist about the artwork he created for Old Durbar.
This collaboration also presents an opportunity to work closely with Lok Chitrakar to support his lifelong work in revitalising Newa folk art practices to make them more accessible to future generations. Proceeds from this collaboration will support a year-long programme that creates, shares and revitalises the practices and knowledge present within Newa folk art.
The programme will allow anyone interested in traditional Newa folk art to join a community of artists seeking to learn, create and share from within the Newa art traditions. Our collaboration will support research, host workshops and conclude with an exhibition that helps disseminate the knowledge generated through the programme. A final publication produced as part of this programme will give continuity to these revitalisation efforts.
“We have always been committed to preserving art and its traditions for future generations. We are delighted to be allowed to make this dream of Lok Dai come true. He has been planning this for a while and we are delighted to help in making this a reality. Through this programme, we hope to generate greater awareness and preserve folk art for many more years. I am confident that this will also be a good opportunity for anyone both locally and internationally to learn, understand and promote one of our many folk heritages,” said Shrestha.
The Old Durbar x Lok Chitrakar is a limited edition release of just 8,000 bottles. The limited edition bottles will be available around the Kathmandu Valley from October 16 at Rs 4,999.
Old Durbar x Lok Chitrakar is the second such creative collaboration by Yeti Distillery with renowned Nepali artists. In 2022, the company partnered with Tsherin Sherpa for the launch of 8848 Rye Vodka x Tsherin Sherpa Limited Edition bottles.
In addition to the limited edition collaboration bottles, the standard version of the Old Durbar 12 Years Old Blended Scotch Whisky is also available for purchase.
The limited edition of the Scotch Whisky will also be available in selected stores around the Valley from October 16.
Born in 1961 into a Newari family with a long lineage of Paubha artists, Lok Chitrakar is globally recognised as a master of the traditional Paubha art form.
Yeti Distillery Pvt Ltd is one of Nepal's leading liquor companies with an outstanding portfolio of premium brands such as Old Durbar Whisky and 8848 Vodka.
