Kathmandu, Aug. 23 -- I stood outside a beautiful home, unsure if I had the correct address. A moment later, artist Anna Dhakal stepped out, her warm smile assuring me I was in the right place. As she welcomed me, entering the living room felt like stepping into an art lover's paradise.

The walls carried paintings from both the Eastern and Western worlds, while large windows opened to a view of flowers and a garden. Natural light streamed in, and beneath the windows, a wall featured a small surprise: a mural of little houses and trees, proof that Dhakal's creativity extends beyond canvas.

When I asked Dhakal how she would like to introduce herself, she paused, unable to put it into words. Her husband, sitting nearby, gently stepped in. ...