HONOLULU (HI Now) - A groundbreaking new exhibition titled Divine Disruption opens May 30th at the Honolulu Museum of Art, marking a historic moment for the local arts community. The show features the work of Nepali contemporary artist Tsherin Sherpa, the first contemporary artist from Nepal ever to be featured in Hawaii. Curator of Asian Art Shawn Eichman, who helped bring the exhibition to life, described the museum as “a place where people can come and be exposed to new voices, learn about themselves, and learn about people from other places.”
Sherpa, who was born and raised in Nepal, grew up immersed in the traditional Thangka painting style under the guidance of his father, a practicing artist. After arriving in the United States in the late 1990s and settling in the Bay Area, he began exploring new forms of art while continuing to exhibit his work around the world. His journey eventually caught the attention of curator Eichman, whose familiarity with traditional Asian art forms gave him an immediate connection to Sherpa’s deeply rooted yet evolving practice.
At the heart of Sherpa’s work is a recurring character he calls “Spirit”, a narrative figure that travels the world, engaging with and learning from the people and places it encounters. Sherpa, visiting Hawaii for the very first time, said his personal story is “a reflection of all those interactions.” The Disruption exhibition opens this Saturday, with Sherpa and Eichman giving a special public lecture in the museum theater. The exhibition will remain on view through January 31st of next year, giving visitors multiple opportunities to experience the work and discover something new with each visit.
For more information, please visit honolulumuseum.org.
Copyright 2026 KHNL. All rights reserved.