I am Shanta Shakya

Yala Craft is my business. I work as a traditional artist in Patan, Lalitpur (the city of artists), Nepal - a place where tradition and creativity intertwine. Inspired by previous generations, I learned the delicate craftsmanship and intricate artistry of making Buddha statues. Rooted in the rich tradition of my heritage, I have dedicated my life to preserving and advancing the art form that has been passed down through the centuries. With every piece I create, I connect with the wisdom of my ancestors and breathe new life into their timeless art.

Guided by my father, a master of this art, I began my apprenticeship as a young man, which opened me up to the world of traditional filigree work, the sophisticated production of extraordinary Dharma pieces. Not only was I able to gain practical experience, but I also developed a deep understanding of the techniques and materials that have shaped our art for generations.

I invite you to explore with me the embodiment of tradition and innovation that lies in each of my creations. Experience the subtle balance between honoring the past and embracing the future that keeps the spirit of traditional Buddhist art alive.

Photos from my workshop. Thanks to Ayla Maagdenberg

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questions and answers

What is Filigree?

Filigree is a technique used to create ornamental patterns from fine metal wires. I place these patterns on the copper surface using copper wire. And then I connect them with hard solder – or fire solder.

First come curved external shapes, usually they are spiral-shaped, which are then filled with fine elements. The small, short-cut elements have an eyelet-shaped head and are inclined in an arc. These form the filling. The application of the wires creates a lively pattern that casts shadows that further emphasize the depth of the ornaments.
In 2022, at the invitation of Pforzheim University, I developed this process with students.

Cast and soldered shapes

I work on cast statues and on soldered forms. The soldered shapes are made of sheet copper. For example, the stupas, the khatwanga and the box for incense sticks are soldered.

How is the stupa made

For the stupa I start with a drawing. Then I look for a suitable crystal bowl for the dome. I cut the copper surfaces and go to a person to solder them together. Then my real work begins, the filigree. I usually solder the settings for the stones first. I apply beading wire as visual separation, as curved flower stems and as border decoration. Then come the spiral-shaped outer shapes that contain the fine filigree elements. When I have finished applying the filigree, I make an arrangement with the electroplater about silver plating. I place the colored stones into the silver-plated stupa. And finally I apply a thin layer of varnish. We call this “oxidise”.

The process of a handmade statue

For a statue, a figure is first made from wax. This is needed for the mold. All of my figures are cast using the traditional lost wax casting process. I have a cousin on my father's side who works in wax. And someone else casts the copper statues. I choose a statue to work with. For example, I looked for a Namgyal statue for a very long time. There isn't always everything and I only like some characters. I'm looking for that. I first clean this statue with fire and then begin the process of filigree. First I fix beading wire and stronger wire for the outer shapes. Then I put the stone settings on. I fill the outer elements with the finely curved filigree elements and fix them in the fire with hard solder at the end of the working day. This step takes a few weeks. When I'm finished, I'll make arrangements with the electroplater to gild and silver the statue. She then goes to the “face painter” who paints the face in gold. This painting is delicate, so it is packaged separately. In the next step I placed the stones and finally I applied a thin layer of varnish. We call this “oxidise”. It looks better and protects the statue.

I sell from Germany

Our family business was mainly focused on China. We wanted to change that and expand the market. It is also about the survival of our craftsmanship. One of us had to try it. And so I got the opportunity to travel to Europe and look around. Since then I have been traveling to Germany regularly, every year. I speak some German. In the summer of 2022 I registered my business, Yala Craft UG. This offers reliability in trade and shipping and has the advantage for EU customers that they can buy from me without customs formalities.