Born 1986, Lamjung, Nepal
Lives and works in Kathmandu, Nepal

Hit Man Gurung's figurative paintings address the phenomenon of transitory Nepalese labourers who leave their families and country behind to join the work forces of foreign countries. Thousands of workers leave Nepal every month to the Middle East, and many are injured or die away from home due to substandard working conditions. International migration has increased exponentially since the civil war, leaving a generational gap that affects a sense of community, the passing on of knowledge and economic wellbeing. Posing figures against stark, minimal backgrounds, Gurung's paintings address the social, political and emotional impact of low-income labour migration. Gurung conducted research throughout Nepal, meeting with families who had suffered the loss or injury of family members, documenting their experiences through videos and collecting data and objects including passports and identity cards. His paintings highlight both the emotional impact and the dramatic socio-economic changes that such a mass migration has caused.