Stone Artistry

Jaya Raj is first and foremost - an artist. As is his father Lok Raj and as was his grandfather, the late Budha Ratna Bajracharya. “I think we are one of the few families that has such a long history of stone sculpting which has continued the tradition unbroken,” says Jaya Raj. He may well be right because it is well known that stone carving is one of the most demanding of crafts and many stone craftsmen have transferred their skills to less strenuous craft like woodcarving. Jaya’s retail outlet is in Babermahal Revisited while his workshop is in Bafal, Gwarko of Lalitpur. Called ‘Stone Carving’, the outlet is a veritable museum of fine art pieces in stone, many of them his and his father’s handiworks. As a business, “It is okay,” says Jaya’s sister in law, the ever smiling Benju, who assists him in the shop. Jaya’s wife, Binita, ever smiling as well, assists in the factory. It is, after all, a family business. Jaya, besides managing the business and doing much of the sculpting, also is the one who participates in international trade fairs. He will soon be going to participate in three more: Boston (Sept 9-Sept 12 – the Boston Gift Show), New York (Sept 25 – Sept 29 – the New York International Show) and Las Vegas (last week of October). “Definitely, the prices I get abroad is many times more than what my work gets here,” reveals Jaya. So, taking all this into account, one can infer that Jaya is also a successful businessman. But, still, let there be no qualms that Jaya is first and foremost – an artist.

However, he is far from satisfied with whatever he has been able to achieve as an artist. Like every artist, Jaya surely yearns for appreciation but, “I am a simple man,” he says. “I did participate in some exhibitions but invariably found myself getting a raw deal. I guess those who are more outgoing and extra clever get more of the credits.” Anyway, one can understand why ‘Stone Carving’ is such a successful venture – customers are likely to get genuine pieces of art even when just hunting for souvenirs. It is indeed a good bargain and that too at very reasonable prices. A large poster hangs in the shop. It shows Jaya in front of his latest creation, a 10 feet tall statue of Guru Rimpoche carved from hard black stone. Even if the finer details are yet to be completed, one is awed at the sheer mastery of the work. “This is probably destined for some foreign shore,” predicts Jaya. One can imagine that such a mammoth piece of art must surely incur an equally mammoth cost. “Well, yes,” admits Jaya. “I have tentatively priced it at Rs. 30 lakhs.” But of course, as any discerning person knows, even at that price, such a work of art could be deserving of even  more. 

Jaya’s grandfather, Budha Ratna, was the recipient of the prestigious Indra Rajya Laxmi Award in 1973. He was responsible for many stone carvings in the palace, including those at the main entrance. Budha Ratna is also credited with the stone peacock windows at the Royal Nepal Academy hall. “My grandfather made the 7 feet Pancha Buddha in Vishuwa of Birganj,” discloses the proud grandson. “In fact, one can see his works in  many cities around the country.” Jaya himself, and his father, Lok Raj, are responsible for many newer outstanding achievements in stone sculpture. Some of the most famous include the 7 feet tall Panchmukhi Hanuman on the Challing hilltop in Bhaktapur. Made in 2000-2001, this particular statue was taken in procession around the Capital with much fanfare and even to the royal palace for the King’s audience before being taken to its site to be installed.

Jaya and his father’s stone carvings of various gods like Shiva and Natraj are located inside the Pashupatinath temple. They have also been the sole commissioned sculptors for making all of the late king Birendra’s statues and busts which have been installed in many places around the country. Another well known work, done in 2004,  has been the Swasthani bust in Matatirtha. “I think I can claim to have given Swasthani a distinct identity, at least as far as physical personality is concerned,” divulges Jaya. “Initially the commissionaire wanted me to base Swasthani’s features on Palanchowk Bhagwwati’s but my advice was that Swasthani should have her own individuality. I was listened to.” In the same year, a 8 feet statue of Milarepa was completed and which is installed on a high hilltop in Manang.

One will observe a couple of head figures in blackstone in the premises of ‘Stone Carving’. According to Jaya, the Australian Embassy had made available molds of similar figures (actually, Gandhara Buddha heads) from a museum in Pakistan and which they had asked him to replicate. “They have been commented to be exact replicas, “ he says. He also points out a medium sized black chaitya (stupa). “This is a reproduction of a chaitya of the Lichavi period that is found in only two places here – Dhokabahal and Banglamukhi.” An intricately carved work, Lokeswar and Bodhisatva images can be seen around the stupa while around the top are figures of Amitabha Buddha. ‘Stone Carving’, as said before, contains very fine pieces of stone sculpture of many kinds. Jaya is specially proud to display a beautifully carved figurine of Manjushree in which one can observe that the workmanship is exceptionally good. Another figure, that of Siddhi Buddha reclining below a many foliaged tree, is as well carved. The bigger figures are also a treat for the senses and, as expected, are really very heavy. At the door is an enormous stone lion, a guardian worthy of installing at the entrance of a worthy home, and a curvaceous female figure, quite large, holding a pitcher, again, worthy of adorning a fountain in some worthy garden. The square outside has on display a large sized chaitya, one that is similar to the nine chaityas ‘Stone Carving’ has installed at the Hotel Hyatt Regency’s inner courtyard and which have been much appreciated for their sublime finishing.  “Our lions can be seen at the Yak & Yeti,” says Jaya. “Dwarika’s also has many of our stone carvings on their premises.”

The variety of work done by ‘Stone Carving’ is considerable and its international exposure is also quite substantial. The shop also has on display many stone spouts (dhunge dharas) which delight the eyes because of their fine aesthetics. Five similarly beautiful stone spouts can be seen at the entrance of Pasupatinath temple. Yes, again made by ‘Stone Carving’.  Jaya’s father, Lok Raj, had participated in the Tokyo International Trade Fair in 1990 in which he was awarded a gold medal. In 1991, he participated in the Waza No Hiraba Trade Fair, again in Japan. In 1998, Jaya participated in the 23^rd Osaka international Trade Fair, and in 2001, in the Foire De Paris as part of the Nepal Pavilion.  Jaya also discloses that the 10 feet tall Mahakali figure that had been placed at Narayanchour for some big religious ceremony some four months ago was made by him. In fact, ‘Stone Carving’ has done so much of the stone carving work in the country, and their works have been installed in so many different countries, that one has to come to the conclusion that perhaps ‘Stone Carving’ could lay claim to being the premier establishment in the business. The fact that their work has continued  unabated through the generations, further lends credibility to this claim.

Finally, at one corner of ‘Stone Carving’, is a stone figure that invariably brings out exclamations of delight from New York tourists on a visit to the shop. Smilingly, Jaya reveals, “This is a model of the stone carved bears in the parks in New York – a familiar sight for New Yorkers.” The two feet tall figure is a comforting symbol of playfulness and cheer not only to New Yorkers but to all who lay eyes on it – such is the artistry with which it has been executed. Trust Jaya, the artist, to have done that.