27 March 2015 Last updated at 09:08

Kathmandu graffiti: Street art has made the walls come to life

Mural shows a blue man enjoying a cigarette sitting by a wheelbarrow full of hearts

When the BBC Richer World team visited Kathmandu to attend the first Ideas Fest they were struck by the new, colourful graffiti - street art is a relatively recent phenomenon in Nepal's capital.

Kathmandu graffiti shows figures climbing out of a head

A new wave of (illegal) street art has replaced the Bollywood adverts and political slogans that used to line the walls.

ArtLab, a group of artists from Kathmandu University's School of Art, are undoubtedly the most active on the streets.

This work is by ArtLab, a group of artists from Kathmandu University's School of Art who are undoubtedly the most active on the streets.

This work by New York artist Bruno Levy shows a man warming his hands on a fire

Graffiti in Kathmandu took off in 2011 following a visit by international street artists. This is by Deadline, with a style influenced by New York artist Bruno Levy, who came to Nepal to "make the walls more colourful".

Woman trapped in spider web by the Kolor Kathmandu collective

The artistic youth of Nepal took notice. This is by the Kolor Kathmandu collective, which wants to transform Kathmandu into an open gallery with "art for the people, by the people”.

Religious figures feature often - they are are readily understood and have better longevity

Some works depict local culture, heritage and art, and feature prominent Nepali personalities. This is by ArtLab.

Religious and mythological themes are common – like this Cyclops listening to music.

One of these deities is pictured spray-painting graffiti.

A spray-painting deity in a collaborative street art mural by SadhuX, Deadline and #H11235 for Nepal Inked 2014.

Hanuman is often depicted carrying a golden sceptre - though here it looks like he's carrying bricks

A sheep jumping across a wall by Dishebh Raj Shrestha, in the Sattya area

A sheep jumping across a wall by Dishebh Raj Shrestha, around Kupondole, done as a part of Kolor Kathmandu.

A tiger with a house on his back - part of some street art by visiting artist Danae Brissonet.

Danae Brissonet, a Guadeloupe-born artist who lives in Canada, created this weather-inspired art in Kathmandu.

And Danae Brissonet made this giant fish creation.

Street art of woman drying her colourful hair

Behind this wall, decorated in ArtLab's style, is a hairdresser's shop.

A giant red panda mural in Thapathali, Kathmandu - graffiti artist Daas apparently wanted to highlight the decline in the red panda population in Langtang National Park.

This cartoonish ArtLab mural depicts a man working with ears of corn. Note: Some of these captions were corrected after publication

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Kathmandu graffiti: Street art has made the walls come to life

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