Name: Pabitra Shrestha
Date of Birth: February 16, 1979
Birth Country: Nepal
Current residence: Denver, CO, USA
Medium of art: Pressed Flower Art

Certified Instructor from Fushigina Club (Japan)

Art and science have always played a very great role in reflecting the history and civilization of mankind. There are more than hundreds of different medium of art works available in US but the one I have been practicing has rarely been introduced as a real from of art. Pressed flower art is one of the very extra ordinary forms of art which was developed through scientific experiments.  It is an art of pressing natural flower without letting the natural color fade away. Like water color or oil color, we use the medium of natural elements such as pressed flower, branches, leaves, roots, barks and so on,  to create beautiful art works reflecting various themes and concepts . However, Its presentation is not only limited in the form of material for making art works portrayed in frames but also can be used for making decorative items such as lamp shades, book marks, candles, decorative notebooks, gifts and greeting cards etc. Its unique form of art has made it worth thousand of Dollars. Thus, my work of expertise focusing on unique art and craft belongs to U.S. national interest which is significantly related to cultural and educational benefit for the people of America.

Though the history of pressed flower art dates back to more than four hundred years ago, it has not yet been recognized as a true form of art. I have been practicing, researching and even took a formal course to bring this art into real form of art. Very few people have seen or even heard about pressed flower art. Recently, pressed flower art has gained a wide popularity in Japan. Japanese technique of pressing and designing pressed flower is one of the finest works in the world.

Let me take a great pride to announce that I am the first foreign pressed flower artist who was approved by International pressed flower art society, Japan to purse further study in Japan specializing in this area of art form. My interest in nature and flora started since my early childhood. My family runs a horticulture business in Nepal and in course of my daily work; I learnt many horticulture terminologies. Then, I started to give advices to my clients as a garden consultant and later worked as a landscape consultant for my own company called Shi-Zen Consultancy. Since I was totally indulged and inspired by nature, I began to search for unique floral art creations. This is how I started my pressed flower art. I started doing pressed flower art since I was 19 years old. My passion for learning this unique form of art grew deeper and deeper as I started getting appreciation from my friends and family. It is indeed a very new and innovative art for every one of us.

In the year 2003 March, I went to Japan to master the further skill of the pressed flower art with the support of International pressed flower Art Society .There I was introduced to one of the renowned pressed flower artist, Mrs, Kazuko Yuda. She is one of the active members of International Pressed Flower Art Society as well as top ranked artists of Japan. She has been honored several times in France, Russia, USA and so many other countries by much highly distinguished reorganization.

In course of my training in Japan, I got an opportunity to participate in several art shows. I participated in several group exhibitions organized by my instructor which includes group exhibition at Fureai Hall, Hirakata City,Osaka, Japan in November 2003 and October 2004.  I also got an opportunity to participate in the biggest pressed flower show “World Pressed Flower Picture Art Festival” at Toke Messe Hall, Niigata prefecture, Japan which started from 17 Oct to 19 Oct., 2003.

Due to my creative ways of reflecting pressed flowers into art form, I got great appraisal from Japanese people. The fact that I was the only international student who was ever allowed to enhance this unique form of art in Japan was also a matter of interest for lots of people and Media. Slowly, I started getting media attention in Japan. My first news was published in Japan’s oldest and most circulated daily newspaper, Yomiuri Shinbun, in August 18, 2003 with the large color page while I was completing my training in Japan. It described how I started this unique art, my previous background and my future plans. This news was highlighted all over the Japan which drew attention to many Japanese artists.  One after another several other media people tried to approach me. In November 1, 2003, NHK kansai news broadcasted very special news about my pressed flower art and my life style in Japan. My confidence level started to rise much more higher as I began to design art work with different themes.  Another popular magazine called Watashi no Hana Seikatsu, specializing in news related to gardening and pressed flower art also made coverage of my unique talent and creativity. They published three full color pages about my pressed flower history and art works in their 23rd issue in January 1, 2005. Despite of being borne in a developing and poor country, I got opportunity to get so much popularity in country like Japan in such a short span of time through my art works. This made me realize that I have a capability to do something different. Talent has no boundary and hard work does pay off if one has confidence enough to prove the talent.

In August 2004, I completed all the pressed flower courses and mastered the Pressed Flower Instructor Course. I am now the first and only certified foreign pressed flower instructor from Japan. After completion of my study, I went back to my home country and started instructing pressed flower art to students in high schools as a volunteer. I also did number of pressed flower displays back home with the combination of both Japanese and Nepalese themes. I did “Reflection of Nature II” Solo exhibition of pressed flower at Park Gallery, Lazimpat, Kathmandu, Nepal in January 19-22, 2005. His Excellency Tsutomu Hiraoka, Ambassador of Japan for Nepal has inaugurated the function accompanied by the Ambassadors of Israel, France and Finland. Similarly, In July 6-14, 2005, I had my solo pressed flower exhibition with the theme of “Eternal Flowers” at Hotel Summit, Nepal.

My expertise in this unique field of creativity has paid me a huge amount of success and achievements. I have been honored by number of national and international medals and award in Nepal and abroad. Recently, I have been  honorably mentioned for my stunning art work submitted under the category  “Long  and Far Away”  in  “World Wide Pressed Flower Guild 2008 Conference and Competition” at Anaheim, California in June, 2008. The WWPFG was established in July of 2001 with the aim to reach out others to promote the art form of pressed flower art as well as welcoming new innovations and trends in all aspects of floral art. This guild is devoted to exploring personal growth by enjoying pressed flower art as a beautiful form of self-expression and a way to celebrate nature. There were total of 50 entries from different country including China, USA, Nepal, Canada, Bahamas, UK, Taiwan, and Russia. My art work was recognized by honorable mentioned in this competition which is a matter of pride for me and my country.
Besides that, I have also received copper prize (Doushou) in Japan for submitting my works for “New year pressed flower post card competition 2004” organized by Hanabokujyo Cultural School, Osaka, Japan in February 20, 2004. Hanabokujyou Culture School organizes pressed flower post card competition every year and welcomes entries from all over the Japan. In Japan there is a trend to exchange gratitude with the postcard (Nengajyou) every beginning of the year to thank the friends and relatives for what they have done last year. I am proud of myself being honored by copper prize out of more than 200 entries among other great Japanese artist.

I have also received the first prize in Kite design competition organized by Embassy of Japan in Nepal in October, 2001. Similarly, I bagged a gold medal and first prize in “Japanese Language Speech Contest” organized by Japan Foundation and Japanese Language Teacher’s Association of Nepal in February 2000.

I am also a gold medalist for topping the Japanese Language course from Kathmandu Japanese Language Institute in November, 2000. Japanese language and pressed flower is very co-related in my life because I would have never been able to master the pressed flower art without learning Japanese and going to Japan.

My art exhibitions are not just merely the display of my creativity, rather it serves some purpose as well. I have been associated with various Not for Profit projects to contribute part of my sell for welfare of orphans and needy people. As you see from my attached appreciation certificate that I have donated the proceeds of my sale from pressed flower materials to help poor children of South Asia in co-operation with UNICEF. Let’s join our hand to preserve nature for eternal love and happiness.

PRESSED FLOWER EXHIBITIONS:

(Inaugurated by His Excellency Tsutomu Hiraoka, Ambassador of Japan)

(World’s Largest pressed flower exhibition which was observed by more than 15,000 people and more than 2400 works were exhibited.)