WHO DOES THE RIVER BELONG TO?
Greetings all+++
We are pleased to invite you to the opening of a new exhibition;
WHO DOES THE RIVER BELONG TO?
OPENING
Friday, December 13th, 2024
4 -6 PM
Nepal Art Council, Babarmahal, Kathmandu
On view until December 22nd, 2024.
The storytellers featured in this exhibition invite us to rethink the story of progress, how we have come to embody it as individuals, communities, and nation states, and how it has singularly led to the plunder of our rivers, our forests, and our lands.
What is the story of progress in Godavari, where the hills were taken over to extract marble? Who do those hills belong to? What is the story of progress in Mukkumlung where locals are fighting for a forest that has been decimated to clear land for a new cable car project? Who do those forests belong to? What is the story of progress in Jogidaha where politicians have promised a new airport to their voterbanks for the last 30 years, only to clear 156 hectares of forest and sell off most of the logged wood? Who do those trees belong to? What is the story of progress for the Sunkoshi river which is being dammed and diverted for electricity and irrigation? Who does the river belong to?
With our rivers, our forests, and our lands fast disappearing, what is to happen to our food, our songs, our customs of living and dying, and our culture that is so intimately shaped by the land?
From Humla to Taglung, from Sipadol to Pachali, each of the stories presented here invites us to take stock, hill by hill, forest by forest, seed by seed, tree by tree, river by river. They ask us to assess what we have gained in the name of progress and what we are losing. They ask us to step away from the noise and to quietly pay attention, to question, to record, and to resist.
Who does the river belong to? It belongs to itself.
___
This exhibition features 9 artists including Aman Shahi, Amit Machamasi, Deepa Shrestha, Kishor Maharjan, Priyanka Tulachan, Samagra Shah, Sanjay Adhikari, Shreena Nepal, Sara Tunich Koinch, and Sundup Dorje Lama.
The exhibition has been curated by NayanTara Gurung Kakshapati in collaboration with Bunu Dhungana, Sagar Chhetri, Prasiit Sthapit and Uma Bista. Production has been led by Nishant Shilpakar and Shikhar Bhattarai with support from the Bala Decor team. Sandesh Ghimire has provided editorial support for all works. Jyotshna Shrestha has translated all texts. All design work has been led by Nipun Bajracharya.
The stories presented in this exhibition were produced during the 2024 photo.circle fellowship program. Mentors for the fellowship program included Bunu Dhungana, Diwas Raja Kc, Kishor Sharma, NayanTara Gurung Kakshapati, Prasiit Sthapit, Sagar Chhetri, Shikhar Bhattarai and Uma Bista. Neesha Khaling Rai was part of the program but was unable to participate in this exhibition.
This exhibition is organised by photo.circle in collaboration with Jane Goodall Institute Nepal and Indigenous Without Borders as programming partners.
We hope to see you at Nepal Art Council!
Exhibition Programming
Friday, Dec 13th – 4:00 – 6:00 – Exhibition public opening
Saturday, Dec 14th
Thapsang Pe (Kitchen Stories)
A cooking and storytelling session with Priyanka Tulachan and her mom Mina Tulachan
1-3pm, Saturday, December 14th, 2024
Nepal Art Council, BabarMahal
*By registration only
Sunday, Dec 15th
Monday, Dec 16th
4PM Guided Tour led by Aman Shahi, Sara Tunich Koinch, Amit Machamasi, Samagra Shah, and Kishor Maharjan
Tuesday, Dec 17th
People of Nepal vs. Godavari Marble Industries Pvt Ltd
Research presentation by Sanjay Adhikari and Shreena Nepal
3-5pm, Tuesday, Dexember 17th, 2024
Nepal Art Council
Wednesday, Dec 18th
Tambhungma: Mukkumlungko Prakriti, Punji ra Pratirodh
Talk by Sara Tunich Koinch, Kailash Rai, Shree Lingkhim, Saroj Kangliwa Limbu
3-5pm, Wednesday, December 18th, 2024
Nepal Art Council
ताम्भुङ्मा: मुक्कुमलुङको प्रकृति, पूँजी र प्रतिरोध
श्री लिङखिम, संयोजक, मुक्कुमलुङ संरक्षण संयुक्त संघर्ष समिति;
सरोज कङलिवा लिम्बु, अभियन्ता/सचिव, किरात याक्थुङ चुम्लुङ, ताप्लेजुङ;
सारा तुनिच कोइँच, कलाकार/फोटोग्राफर; र
कैलाश राई, अध्येता
Thursday, Dec 19th
4PM Guided Tour lead by Priyanka Tulachan, Sundup Dorje Lama, Deepa Shrestha, Sanjay Adhikari, Shreena Nepal
Friday, Dec 20th
4PM Guided Tour led by Bunu Dhungana and Sagar Chhetri
Saturday, Dec 21st
Pak Tum Rum
Drumming workshop with Aman Shahi and Balkrishna Shahi
3-5pm, Saturday, December 21st, 2024
Nepal Art Council, BabarMahal
Sunday, Dec 22nd
4PM Closing Guided Tour led by NayanTara Gurung Kakshapati
Photos: Shikhar Bhattarai