Photo KTM opens with focus on non-human world

By Aashish Mishra,Lalitpur, Feb. 28: This world does not only belong to humans. We are not the hero image in the grand tapestry of existence. We are not the magnum opus of our god. And we are not the masters of nature. No matter how much we want to be; no matter how much we try to be.

Exhibiting the work of over 60 participants from 16 countries across six venues in Lalitpur, photo.circle appears to present to its visitors these themes and more in the fifth iteration of its PhotoKTM festival that began in the city on Saturday. Through over a dozen exhibitions that will continue through the month of March, the 2023 edition of the biennial festival wants to ignite discussions around what it called the 'non-human' world. 

Its press release elaborates: "We dedicate this fifth edition of the festival to gathering, as a community of storytellers, to think about what role we play to help restore voice and agency to the natural and non-human world; to rebuild relationships to land and place; to learn anew how to pay attention, give name, make place, mourn loss, relearn histories, walk our questions; and to move towards a shared politics of mutualism, collaboration, justice and care."

And, through the Abu Hang Samuel's encounters with orchids and Hemlata Pradhan and the Himalayan Trust for Natural History Art's drawings from nature platformed at the Patan House to the display of birds that ought to be familiar to us (but perhaps are not) at Chyasal, and via the displays at Namkha and Munem Wasif's presentation of seeds at Gallery MCUBE, PhotoKTM does indeed present a non-human-centric perspective of the world.

This is far from a romanticised concept of a pristine nature though. Through the visuals it gives space to, this year's PhotoKTM asks those that see them to comprehend the detrimental impact mankind has had on their environment and the species they share that environment with. The international festival also questions our notion of 'development' that relegated indigenous groups to a class of 'backwardness' they never belonged to, displaced them and their cultures and enforced alien customs that caused more harm than good.

Nepal Picture Library's 'The Skin of Chitwan' presents this tragedy inflicted upon the native Tharus of the district, on the recommendations of, as per the caption under one of the photos, American officials who saw the indigenous Tharu of Nepal's Rapti Valley as part of an outdated past, and the actions of Nepali officials who believed them.

It is hard not to read symbolism into the choice of venues too. Khapinchhe and Chyasal Hiti in particular put this 'art' right at the centre of the community for people to interact with. However, even the best intentions fall short. And even though PhotoKTM has reached the community, it seems to have not engaged with the community members. 

The Rising Nepal has people at both these locations if they understood the pieces being displayed in front of them. Many replied that they did not even know what they were. 

It also could not be ignored that photo.circle, while wishing to connect with the land and place, chose to support their visuals with information in English and Nepali and not give space to Nepal Bhasa, which is the language of the localities they shall be based in for the next one month.

Several senior citizens observing the exhibition at Chyasal Hiti said that the pictures brought among them would have immersed them more if they featured their mother tongue Nepal Bhasa.

For an initiative that aims to create conversations between the city, its public, its past and its aspirations, PhotoKTM might have created a gap between it and the 'public'.

For visitors, all exhibitions will be on display from 11am to 7pm every day at venues Patan House, Dhaugal; Bahadur Shah Baithak, Mangal Bazaar; Khapinchhhen; Chyasal Hiti; Namkha, Kumbeshwor; and Gallery MCUBE, Chakupat from February 24 and continue till 31 March 2023. Entry is free for all.