Photo of Clark Valentine by Ben Krain.
Clark Valentine, assistant professor of drawing at UA Little Rock, spent part of his summer immersed in the vibrant culture and artistic traditions of Nepal during a unique international artist residency in Kathmandu.
From June 1 to July 1, Valentine participated in the Space A Kathmandu International Artist Residency Program, a juried program that brings in artists from around the world for a month of creative exchange. While there, Valentine collaborated with Bangladeshi artist Liton Chandra Sarker and presented his work in a final exhibition at the historic Patan Museum, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and former 17th-century royal palace.
“This residency gave me the chance to live and work as an artist in Kathmandu, not just as a visitor,” Valentine said. “I felt connected with people, learned to cook local food, and experienced what life is like as an artist living in the city.”
During the residency, Valentine created eight new drawings inspired by Nepali artistic traditions, including Thangka paintings, mandalas, and temple wood carvings. His work responded to both the religious and cosmological symbolism in Hindu and Buddhist art as well as his personal experiences in Nepal. He also developed video pieces influenced by a 10-day silent meditation retreat at the Kopan Monastery, where he participated in Buddhist teachings during the Saga Dawa Festival, one of the most significant celebrations in the Buddhist calendar.
Clark Valentine visits Kathmandu during an artist residency in Nepal.
Valentine also connected with students and faculty at the Kathmandu University School of Arts, where he gave lectures, visited with students and faculty, and learned about their unique blend of traditional and contemporary art practices.
“Their students are studying many of the same contemporary texts as ours, but they also engage deeply with Nepali traditions,” Valentine said. “It was fascinating to see the similarities and differences between our programs.”
Valentine’s experience in Kathmandu was supported by a College of Humanities, Arts, Social Sciences, and Education (CHASSE) Summer Research and Creative Activities Fellowship. His new drawings will be featured in an upcoming solo exhibition, “Drawing Time,” opening Oct. 1 at Ouachita Baptist University in Arkadelphia. The exhibition will also feature some of his previous and newer works of art.
“This residency was such a rich cultural immersion,” Valentine said. “It will continue to shape my art and teaching moving forward.”
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Share Your Thoughts
- What impact could Valentine’s residency and cultural exchange have on UA Little Rock’s art curriculum or local art community?
- How should universities support faculty opportunities for international residencies and cross-cultural teaching collaborations?
- What lessons can artists and students learn from integrating traditional Nepali artistic practices into contemporary drawing and video work?
- Do you think short-term residencies (one month) offer meaningful cultural immersion — why or why not?