Hira Lal Dangol (1940 - 2017), is a renowned Nepali artist from Kathmandu, known for his exceptional bird paintings. He gained prominence for his work on the first field guide to the Birds of Nepal, published in 1976. Dangol collaborated with Robert Flemings on this groundbreaking project, illustrating all the bird pictures alongside fellow artist Hem Poudyal.
Dangol's artistic legacy extends beyond his individual work:
He comes from a family of talented artists, including P.L. Dangol, Ishwor Dangol, Meena Dangol, and Pratima Dangol Chakradhar.
His family members have contributed to creating vivid, lifelike bird paintings with exceptional detail.
Hira Lal Dangol's work has been recognized both nationally and internationally:
His paintings have been exhibited multiple times, both solo and in joint exhibitions, within Nepal and abroad.
A book titled "Birds of Nepal: The Art of Hira Lal Dangol and His Family Legacy" was published in 2017, showcasing 40 color paintings of birds by the artist.
Dangol's artistic style is characterized by:
Vivid coloration and lifelike depictions of birds1.
Exceptional attention to detail in portraying birds in their natural surroundings.
Hira Lal Dangol's contribution to Nepali art is significant, as he followed in the footsteps of Raj Man Chitrakar, who was Nepal's first artist to extensively paint wild birds and mammals in the early 1800s.