Painted Nepalese Scenes Accompany Cuisine at Aangan

Diners at Aangan, an Indo-Nepalese restaurant that recently opened on San Pablo Avenue, can experience Nepal through two instruments—the palate and the palette.

Ordering chaat, curries and other authentic dishes comes with an item that isn't on the menu—a panoramic impressionistic view of Kathmandu.

And, as much as the seven 40- by 60-inch oil paintings along the restaurant's south wall capture the essence of Nepali townscapes, there is a local dimension to the art. The painter, Yuvak Tuladhar, 48, is a recent Albany transplant.

The story of how Aangan came to feature Tuladhar's paintings as the decorative centerpiece is one that illustrates the cultural vibrance and exchange within the neighborhood's ethnic community.

Tuladhar and Vishnu Bhandari—who opened and co-owns Aangan with his wife, Amita—have known each other for five years. Vishnu Bhandari used to manage Vik's Chaat Corner in Berkeley, and Tuladhar was a frequent customer.

"There were a lot of other Nepali people working there and I said 'hello' to everyone," Tuladhar said. "Somehow, Vishnu found out that I paint and I took him to my place and showed him what I've done before."

It didn't take long before the Bhandaris, El Cerrito residents, decided Tuladhar could provide the perfect solution to a decorative dilemma they faced with their new restaurant venture.

"The building owner said we couldn't do anything with the brick wall so we decided we needed to put something up with a frame," said Amita Bhandari, 38.

"We thought about what kind of picture would look good here and I knew that (Tuladhar) is a good artist, and I decided to hire him," added Vishu Bhandari, who is also 38.

While the Bhandaris hashed out the logistics associated with opening a new restaurant, Tuladhar got to work in his studio in Richmond in the early part of this year.

By the time Aangan opened on June 24, the paintings dressed the brick wall, spanning several table lengths. Grouped together, the paintings form a mural of Nepali life but they can easily be displayed in pairs, or alone, should the owners someday decide to change the layout.

Their warm terra cotta-colored paints blend in with the bricks and matching interior, creating the exact effect the artist and restaurant owners intended.

"I didn't notice them until after a while," said Sherrie Hansen, 62, a Kensington resident who has visited the country twice. "They look wonderful and they're integrated with the colors in the room. It really adds to the atmosphere of the restaurant and captures the feeling of Nepal."

Stylistically, Tuladhar describes the paintings as "impressionistic."

"These are real places but if you actually go there you won't see mountains in the back. I put them together," he said.

Even so, Nepal natives said they identify with the scenes.

"They actually reflect Nepal because Nepal is full of mountains," said Surendra Wagle, 48, an Albany resident who emigrated from Nepal six years ago. "It makes us feel good that people who come in the restaurant can know what Nepal is like."

Tuladhar sold his paintings to Aangan's owners for about half the amount he normally would, but he got something valuable in exchange. Customers often inquire about the paintings, and the Bhandaris give them Tuladhar's business card.

"I think the arts and businesses have to work together to support each other," Vishnu Bhandari said.

Another customer, Dave Strauss, said this type of collaboration is "a great idea" and a good model for other local businesses.

"It's a way to get exposure for the artist and it's nice for the patrons of the restaurant too," the 62-year-old Kensington resident said.

Positive feedback has made the Bhandaris receptive to Tuladhar's idea of adding some photos of the food preparation process outside the restrooms so customers can get a sense of family and "feel connected to what's happening inside" the kitchen.

Aangan is not the first restaurant where Tuladhar has displayed his work. The artist landed his first site nine years ago at Shangri-La Cafe and Grill in Rohnert Park, and has also had his work at Taste of the Himalayas in San Francisco.

Tuladhar came to the United States 20 years ago when he received the Fulbright-Hayes Scholarship. He earned a master's in fiber arts in 1992 at Savannah College of Art & Design in Georgia, and another in painting in 1987 at Benares Hindu University in India. He has had 10 one-person shows and 14 two-person shows.

Going back to his early days in his home country, Tuladhar remembers he "always wanted to be an artist." Especially after his children were born, many of his subjects were Nepali people but he also loved bringing townscapes to life.

More recently, he has grown to embrace the pleasures of painting for different purposes.

"Every time I paint something for myself, it's very different from when I paint for a space," he said. "When I (paint for a space) I learn a lot more, new ideas come up."

As apparent as Tuladhar's talent may be, it wasn't a straight path. In fact, it took him 15 years to figure out art was his true passion.

"I got interested in woodworking and became a carpenter for a few years, and built houses, but after everything I realized I am good at painting," he said. "Only this year I got enough courage to give up my full-time job and be a full-time artist."

Making a living as an artist "is always tough whether it's a recession or an upward economy," but Tuladhar has found a way to make ends meet.

Open-mindedness has been key. Currently, Tuladhar is working with a Los Angeles-based company to create reproductions of Bob Marley images, and continues to collaborate with nonprofit organizations. New collaborations with architects, interior designers and Nepali musicians are on the horizon.

"I'm finding several different ways to make a living," he said. "My goal is not to be a struggling artist but a prosperous artist, not just money-wise but in both money and happiness."

Albany Arts Gallery on Solano Avenue also carries Tuladhar's paintings and portraits.

"He uses classical, almost obsolete techniques for doing his oils, it's an old master's technique," said gallery co-owner Michael Williams, 57, adding that he would like to see Tuladhar teach painting classes.

Apart from living closer to his children, Tuladhar moved to Albany from Rodeo earlier this year because the community is "highly educated and active in all different things," welcoming and interested in diverse cultures and experiences.

More than 5,000 Nepali people live in this area, according to Tuladhar, and this has fueled his aspiration to give back by connecting them to their culture through the arts.

"Most of the Nepali people here are first generation immigrants struggling, working hard and slowly becoming more prosperous," he said. "I want them to be able to appreciate art and get more support for artists."