Stepping Stones is an exhibition of works on paper (both drawings and lithographs) by Surya Bajracharya that are the result of a mentorship in lithography with printmaker, John Loane. To be shown at Studio Altenburg, it is his second exhibition at this gallery in less than a year – testifying to the quality and popularity of his work.

His previous exhibition at Studio Altenburg, called Blood on the Tracks, provides a useful point of reference to consider the development of the artist’s work under the stewardship of Loane. The works in Stepping Stones demonstrate a freer use of line and colour and the subject matter is reduced to a layering of short marks that creates a shimmering and dream-like effect.

Lithography is a method of printing using a stone or metal plate with a completely flat surface and uses oil or fat and gum Arabic to separate the smooth surface into regions, which accept ink and those that don’t. It is a medium ideally suited to exploring drawing and colour and thus Stepping Stones demonstrates the beneficial effect of the medium on the artist’s work.

John Loane considered to be one of Australia’s leading lithographers, has worked collaboratively with many artists. He says; “In the best circumstances (collaborative printmaking), the printer will have a genuine empathy for an artist’s work, in which case the collaboration can be mutually satisfying.” (Custom or Collaborative Printing, by John Loan - transcript of paper presented at The First Australian Print Symposium, National Gallery of Australia, Canberra, 1989). Judging by Bajracharya’s works in Stepping Stones, the mentorship appeared to be the ‘best of circumstances’.

Bajracharya attended the Canberra School of Art, graduated with honours, has been the recipient of a number of awards and now lives and works in Braidwood. His primary medium is printmaking. Bajracharya was born to a Nepalise father grew up in Nepal and then came to live in Australia when he was 4 years old. In 2005, Bajracharya was artist in residence at Megalo Access Arts in Canberra, where he produced monumental lithographic images based on a trip to Nepal. The images were constructed from nine panels each individually printed using a lithographic transfer technique.

The Surya Bajracharya “Mentorship with John Loane in lithography” saw Surya undertaking a 6-week mentorship in the medium of lithography with artist/master printmaker John Loane at Megalo Arts Access Inc and administered under Southern Tablelands Arts as part of the Regional Arts Fund - an Australian Government initiative to support sustainable, community-based cultural development in regional, remote and isolated areas in Australia. The funding is targeted at activities that will have long term cultural, economic and social benefits that develop partnerships and cultural networks and that provide skills development opportunities. [gallery media]