Manish Harijan: Untouchable Utopia

About

The Art House is thrilled to present Untouchable Utopia, a powerful new exhibition by Manish Harijan. Born in Nepal and now based in Sheffield, Harijan unveils a compelling new body of work in painting and sculpture, showcasing his artistic vision and commitment to social change.

Harijan’s practice challenges societal structures of tradition, hierarchy, and religion, shedding light on the harsh realities faced by minority populations globally, and whose work boldly confronts the pervasive issue of caste discrimination. The son of a shoemaker from the so-called lower ‘Dalit’ caste in Nepal, he uses his art as a vehicle for resistance against injustice.

In 2012, Harijan was forced to leave Nepal after facing violent backlash from his first solo exhibition. The show presented paintings that recast Hindu deities as superheroes. On opening night, it was shut down on religious grounds, and the artist received death threats, court cases were filed and UNESCO issued a press release to support the artist’s freedom of expression. This led the artist to seek refuge in the UK, and to further his studies at Sheffield Hallam University. He now continues to dedicate his practice to giving voice to marginalised communities, those who are vulnerable, stateless, or living under the threat of injustice.

His paintings and sculptures often present darker-skinned, male and female manual laborers as heroic, empowered figures – icons draped in bold colours, poised as though they were characters from a graphic novel. Drawing inspiration from Pop art, Harijan’s dramatic reimagining of everyday labourers challenges the historical narrative and offers a new, urgent perspective on caste and class struggles.

Blending Eastern and Western aesthetics, Harijan’s work weaves together the local and the global, merging Nepalese folklore with universal cultural references, and fairy tales with modern realities and news stories. By drawing on pop culture, religious imagery, and classical art, he transforms his subjects into symbols of power and resilience.

This fusion and challenging of his influences invites us to question how individual stories are linked to larger collective struggles that affect wider society. It asks us to think about our own place in the world and how we can all contribute to making it better. This exhibition offers not only a deeper understanding of Harijan’s personal story but a timely reflection on the power of art to challenge and reshape the world around us.

Access facilities

• Accessible Toilet
• Assistance Dogs Welcome
• Audio Described
• Baby Changing Facilities
• Braille And Tactile Signage
• SEND
• Step Free Access
• Wheelchair Accessible