Exhibition on exploitation of natural resources continues

By A Staff Reporter, Kathmandu, Dec. 19: An exhibition titled “Who Does the River Belong To?” is currently on display at the Nepal Art Council in Kathmandu.

Running from December 13 to December 21, the nine-day event sheds light on the alarming degradation of natural resources caused by human activities.

The exhibition features narratives from nine storytellers who explore critical questions about the ownership and exploitation of Nepal’s natural resources. Their works invite viewers to reconsider the prevailing notions of progress and how it has contributed to the exploitation of rivers, forests and lands at individual, communal, and national levels.

The showcased pieces were created during a nine-month fellowship program. Using photography, video, and other multimedia formats, the works critically examine human-nature relationships and the consequences of resource exploitation, explained Sandesh Ghimire, the exhibition’s Press Coordinator.

The exhibition poses thought-provoking questions: What is the story of progress in Godavari, where hills were excavated for marble extraction? Who owns those hills? What about Mukkumlung, where locals are battling to save a forest cleared for a cable car project? Who owns those forests? In Jogidaha, politicians have promised a new airport for three decades, clearing 156 hectares of forest and selling the logged wood—who owns those trees? And for the Sunkoshi River, dammed and diverted for electricity and irrigation, who owns the river?

Each fellow worked under the guidance of a mentor throughout the nine-month program. “At photo.circle, we hope this exhibition sparks a broader conversation critiquing the mainstream narratives of Bikas (development) and Samriddhi (prosperity) that dominate Nepal’s state policies,” said Bunu Dhungana, one of the programme mentors.

Nayantara Gurung Kakshapati, the exhibition’s curator, added, “With our rivers, forests, and lands disappearing rapidly, what will happen to our food, our songs, our traditions, and our culture, all of which are deeply intertwined with the land?”