Mithila Painting refers to traditional paintings created by women in the Janakpur region, which is said to have been the capital of the Mithila Kingdom, by the border between Nepal and India. These paintings use bright and vivid colors to depict natural elements like the sun and the moon, flora and fauna like fish and elephants, scenes from people’s daily lives, and Hindu mythology.
Traditionally practiced and passed down by women, Mithila paintings were done on the exterior walls of houses. In the mid-1960s, they began to be painted on paper, and since then, Mithila art has expanded to include various everyday objects. More recently, contemporary subjects have also been included in the paintings, and Mithila art has become a symbol of the region. This exhibition presents Mithila paintings and crafts with the goal of providing a glimpse into the traditional culture and way of life in the communities from which these items hail.