The art of sculpting a metal statue dates back centuries. In Nepal, lost-wax method is one of the oldest methods for crafting a metal statue that is still in use. A lot of time and skill is invested in each piece and a single statue can take 3-4 weeks to complete.

Photographer Gopen Rai captures the process of sculpting copper statues at the workshop of Srivatsa Handicraft in Lalitpur.

Craftsman Radheshyam Khadka gets ready for work.

A craftsman creates a wax model called a masterpiece for the statue.

A metal sheet is heated to give the wax model the desired shape.

The craftsman shapes and contours the wax model using heated plates until the desired look is achieved.

The wax model is coated with several layers of clay and dung mixture and heated till the wax melts out and a hollow cast is made.

Copper is placed in a container and heated till it melts.

The molten copper is then poured into the mold.

Once the metal is set, it is thrust into a container of cold water.

The clay is removed and craftsmen work on the details of each piece by hand.