For Sameer, 'Street art emerge directly from people's everyday life'

The 30-year-old Sameer Gurung finds his niche space when he throws himself into art. He said, ‘I see art in everyday life and that's where street art emerge’. Known as green.brain17 in his social media, his artworks have dabbled into mural arts, tattooing, painting, digital illustration, and photo manipulation, among which, the street arts bring out the best in him.

Ever since he realized he could create art, there has been no looking back after that. His gigantic mural wall art called, ‘Chytiatiyeko yathartha’ translated as torn reality in English located in Bhanimandal, Lalitpur is where he uses torn clippings along with song lyrics on a three-storey building that tells it all. The mural wall art depicts the harsh reality of migrant workers that went into making the grand Fifa World Cup Qatar, 2022, a great success. 

Gurung felt that the world needs to know what, how, and who really helped players to connect with their passion in such a warm-temperate desert. 'I understand it more just as I connect it with my street art'.

In Nepal, street artists often face limited resources, including materials and funding. 'I have often faced difficulty finding the right place or wall because of the structure of our city and not every owner gives access, they are scared, if that might involve official matters'.

Gurung's love for art didn't grow out of a blue moon. He said, 'I had a sound knack with patterns on margins, often competing with my friends to see who draws better'.

Desperate to pursue art as early, Gurung went to a tattoo artist for a three-month mentorship session right after SLC. But, 'they said, I was too young'. However, he didn't give up his dream of becoming an artist, not even when his brothers and many of his friends went abroad.

Another street art that depicts is of a man carrying a kharpas on his shoulders as he walks down the narrow streets of Ason. The artwork on the building's motive was to raise the attention of people and youth on culture & heritage. It was a reminder of how older generations worked hard so, youths of today get what they have now'. 

One's way to street art is an exposure to the physical dangers when working in public spaces. Unlike other artworks, art out on the streets is difficult such as falling from great heights. 'This worries me a lot, so we have to pay attention to the safety of the team'.

Street art, particularly, is still struggling to reach out to the audience. One way to engage more and more people is to let them know street art is to allow them access to art shows, exhibitions, and events while looking for opportunities to channelize as many art projects as one can.

Street art in Thamel delves into an elephant tusk and quietly resembles a religious tone. 'I enjoy experimenting with art', said Gurung, who drew like a Chaitanya on his head. This was done in collaboration with other friends of his'. 

Gurung feels bad that not many of them recognize street art as much as others appreciate other artworks typically as 'art'. Street art has had a difficult approach for him to make a living out of the work.

Because street art involves public spaces, consent is key. There are no laws concerning this, at least not yet. However, Gurung feels it should be legally protected. He says, 'unlike other artworks, street art has a direct potential to be a positive force to be reckoned with indifferences in a community'.

For Gurung, art really springs from what one feels. For him, 'there is no rule to become one but one should be a good human first'. As long as you stay true to your passion, you’ll be able to create just whatever’, he signed off.

(You can also find his other artworks on Instagram at @graffitinepal or @green.brain17).

Author: Susmita Aryal is a third-year bachelor student of English Literature and Journalism. She is interested in reading and writing about identity, arts, and society.