Youdhisthir Maharjan’s (b. 1984) artworks are associated with language, which combines materials and reclaimed text in a laboriously repetitive and autopoietic process to create new meanings. Inspired by Beckett’s two-act play Waiting for Godot, that neither had a certain beginning or a defined end, Youdhi (as he is lovingly called) questioned the cyclical narrative of the play with no conclusion. Based on his Buddhist and Hindu sensibilities, he equated the futile repetition of the act to that of endless cycles of rebirth and incarnation, a journey that has no beginning nor an end. It was this futility that became the backbone of his artistic process and found voice through acts of cutting, erasing, painting, burning and weaving.

His interests in language can be traced back to his undergraduate degree in creative and experimental writing, making him scavenge for books from numerous thrift stores; at times for reading but mostly for subconscious doodling. These texts made their way onto his printing press where the repetitions of the print made the language lose its value and meaning- merely becoming abstract forms- breaking the boundaries and limitation of language to become universally accepted. 

Youdhi began his journey in the arts with a B.A. in Creative Writing & Art History from the New England College, New Hampshire (USA) and went on to pursue his M.F.A. at the University of Idaho in 2012. He has since exhibited extensively in India, Nepal, the United States and the UK. Some of his solo shows of note include Art Dubai, Bawabba solo booth, Blueprint12, 2023; Tender is the Night, at Aicon Gallery, New York (2021); ‘Toils of Delight’ at the Frank Museum of Art, Ohio (2019), ‘A Thread of Truth’ at Vadehra Art Gallery, New Delhi (2019); ‘An Unquiet Mind’, at Tarq, Mumbai (2018); ‘Nothing Repeated’ at Prichard Gallery, Idaho (2012); ‘The Art of Not Making’ at the New England College Gallery, New Hampshire (2012) and ‘Nite Light’ at Indigo Gallery, Nepal (2004).

His selected goup shows include, 'In the Night', at Saudi Arabia Museum of Contemporary Art (SAMoCA - 2024); ‘The Power of Intention: Reinventing the (Prayer) Wheel’ at The Rubin, New York (2019); India Art Fair (2016-2023);  Serendipity Arts Festival, Goa (2018, 2023); ‘Himalayan Contemporary’ at Desai/Matta Gallery, San Francisco (2017); ‘Deep Cuts: Contemporary Paper Cutting’ at Currier Museum of Art, Manchester, New Hampshire (2017); ‘In Letter and Spirit’ at TARQ, Mumbai (2016); the Kathmandu Triennale (2017), ‘Reading Room’, Saffron Art, New York, 2016,; ‘Reading Room: Leaves, Threads, and Traces’, Winchester Gallery, UK, (2016) and Emerging Talent, Seraphin Gallery, Philadelphia (2016). He lives and works from Boston, USA.