Fruit and Vegetable Carving Art

Fruit and vegetable carving is an art form, used mostly for decorations and sometimes to show artistic expression.

The origins of this art form are disputed (Thailand, China and Japan are suggested).

People who believe that this art form originated in China say it began in the time of the Tang Dynasty (AD 618-906) and the Sung Dynasty (AD 960-1279) in China.

In Japan, fruit and vegetable carving art is called Mukimono which become popular in the Edo period, in sixteenth century, when Mukimono gained official recognition.

Those who believe fruit and vegetable carving originated in Thailand say it started during the Loi Kratong festival in the 14th century. Lots of intricate decorations are used during the Loi Kratong festival.

However, it was only in the mid 20th century, fruits and vegetable carving art began to grow outside Thailand. Today, this art form is popular the world over.

Nowhere can we see the popularity of fruit and vegetable carving as much as in Thailand. In Thailand this art form is taught in schools, and children as young as 11 years old are professionally trained.

Birds, flowers, trees and people are craved in fruit and vegetables, but you never know the limit of artists’ imagination. The art is mostly used for decorations, but also sometimes to exhibit artistic impressions.

About the Artist

Artist: Sajan Thapa Magar

Art: Fruit and Vegetable Carving

Title: Mukimono

Objects used: Pomelo ( A fruit of citrus family found in Asia), lemon, eggplants, cucumber, watermelons, apple, cauliflower etc.

Sajan Thapa Magar, born in April 18, 1986, received his basic education in Dharan, a city located in the eastern part of Nepal. He is a self taught artist who held a solo exhibition of his arts at Gurukul, Kathmandu from November 18 to December 7, 2010.

His second exhibition, titled Mukimono (Fruits and Vegetable Carving), was showcased at Gurukul, Kathmandu in September, 2011.

Mr. Thapa Magar works as a theatre actor at Gurukul, one of the leading theatre companies in Nepal. He has performed in numerous plays and is well appreciated by the theatre critics in Nepal. Besides acting he also looks after lights, props and publicity departments at Gurukul, a School of Theatre.

Apart from performing plays and producing manpower for theatre, Gurukul also organizes art workshops and art exhibitions. At Gurukul, Sajan Thapa Magar got an exposure to numerous art events, which nurtured his interest in painting. In the beginning he copied other artworks, but as his creative impulse took rein over him, he marveled into his imagination. Today, he remains in touch with well established artists of Nepal like Prakash Chandwodkar, Karna Maskey and Kiran Manandhar, and has been receiving guidance and inspiration from them. After his first exhibition, he joined Kasthamandap Art Studio run by well established artists in Kathmandu, where he learned fruits and vegetable carving.

"On September 3, artist Sajan Thapa Magar, gave a perfect example of vegetable and fruit art by creating stunning art pieces from them. His artworks amazed the visitors who got opportunity to witness his creations at the art exhibition Mukimono held at Gurkul, Puranobaneshwor, Kathmandu.”

- The Himalayan Times, September 7, 2011