All Nepalese are mourning after the devastating earthquake of April 25, 2015. Over 8,000 people have died and countless more have been displaced. Many homes, ancient temples have been destroyed and entire villages turned to rubble. We all couldn’t do anything when centuries-old buildings were destroyed at UNESCO World Heritage Sites in the Kathmandu Valley.

There are many examples like this natural disaster in the world and this time it came to us Nepalese. This is the time we have to rise from rubble and we Nepalese can do it. We have helped people in need in the past and now there are millions of helping hands coming to help us. Nepal Government is working in relief and reconstruction with support from others. And we Nepalese are helping each other, sharing our sorrows and pain. We artists are with those people who are dreaming of a better future for tomorrow.

We have seen lots of masterpieces of world-famous artists in times of great revolution, war and mourning like Goya’s Third of May, Delacroix’s Liberty Leading the People, Van Gogh’s The Potato Eaters, Dali’s World War II works and Picasso’s Guernica.

After this worst disaster, we artists were also with people in relief and helping them. At the same time I thought we artists can create hope in people.

On the 45th day after the earthquake, I decided to paint on a canvas of 7.8 meters long and 45 inches tall. The painting was named 11:56 AM, representing the time when the earthquake struck Nepal.

The painting was sponsored by Kathmandu Eco Hotel and painted live in Basantapur. It was planned to be auctioned with a starting price of Rs. 1,000,000, and the amount donated to the Prime Minister’s Relief Fund.

The painting uses collage techniques, symbols of destroyed heritage sites, the efforts of Nepal Army, supporting hands, flowers made from newspaper, white and yellow colors representing pain, purity and gentleness, the moon representing hope, and red symbolizing courage in reconstruction.