Two Farmers with Red Dog
Sunil Sigdel, 2009
Acrylic on canvas
150 × 120 cm

© Weltmuseum Wien Friends

The civil war between the Maoists and the Nepalese government, which lasted from 1996 to 2007, was a very dark time for Nepal. The rebellion was initiated by the Maoists with the main aim of overthrowing the Nepali Monarchy and of establishing a People’s Republic. Over 19,000 people (civilians and armed forces) were killed during the conflict.

Maoists appealed to poor farmers, jobless youth, and even school and college students by way of fancy slogans. They claimed that once having a People’s Republic, the youth will be given jobs, those without land will be given land, and that the old education system will be replaced by a new one. Those holding different views, and who do not support them are enemies of Maoism.

Nepali Monarchy ended in 2008. I completed Two farmers with Red Dog in 2009, just after the Maoists came to power. This work represents the hopelessness of those famers, jobless youth and students who blindly believed the sweet dream propagated by the Maoists, and who had left their work to study for a better future life. Monarchy was finished, and although their leaders are in government there is no any sign of change. The realization of being just another puppet to government leaders simply hurt them. They lost many friends and family members. Life had treated them badly but continues much as it had before. I changed the Maoist red flag into a dog, which is gradually transformed in the shadow on this work. The symbolic hammer and sickle of their flag is useless. Freed from one king, they now face dozens of them.