I will be out of town from July 9th to 17th, and so will not be shipping orders or open for visitors at the gallery. The Indigo Arts website will be active as always. I will respond to emails as soon as possible. I will be able to ship orders after July 17th, 2025.

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Madhumala Mandal

About the Artist

Madhumala Mandal (courtesy of Janakpur Women's Development Centre)
Madhumala Mandal (courtesy of Janakpur Women's Development Centre)

When I was 15 my father went to India to earn money. Coming back, he brought many things that were necessary for a wedding. Although those things were all second quality, I was looking forward to the wedding. I hoped to marry in Janakpur and that way I would gain some freedom.
In town the people usually are less traditional, more liberal. My parents had to pay 15,000 rupees for dowry. My in-laws also requested a radio and a bicycle. To me, my father gave only a silver hasuli (neck ornament) because jewelry lasts a long time whereas other things can easily break.
I learned to paint by myself, from what I saw painted on different houses. Our neighbours saw 
my paintings and asked me to paint their houses. So I started painting houses on the occasion of festivals. Because I like painting so much and because we needed the money, I wanted to join the Janakpur Women's Development Centre. So a friend told me to paint my house during festival time. During that time, people from the center were going to villages to find new artists. I painted my house and was chosen. Starting from the first money (500 rupees) that I earned, I managed to save 10,000 rupees to build a shop. With two incomes my husband and I could afford to send our four children to school. Usually I paint daily life situations and tattoos. Tattoos are very important in our culture. If you do not have tattoos, people will not accept you as a member of society. For example, no one will touch your food because they think it will not be tasty.

(Biography Courtesy of Janakpur Women's Development Centre)

Region:
Maithili Bicycle
SKU: MTHL-2206

Madhumala Mandal - Kuwa village, Janakpur, Nepal
c.2021
Acrylic paint on handmade lokta paper
(20" h. x 30" w. ).

$185

Maithili Bicycle
SKU: MTHL-2103

Madhumala Mandal - Kuwa village, Janakpur, Nepal
c.2016
Acrylic paint on handmade lokta paper
(10" h. x 15" w. ).

$75

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