Exhibition on exploitation of natural resources continues

By A Staff Reporter,Kathmandu, Dec. 19: An exhibition titled “Whose Rivers, Whose Forests and Whose Land?”  is going on at the Nepal Art Council in Kathmandu.

Began on December 14, the 9-day exhibition highlights the deteriorating state of natural resources caused by human activity. The exhibition features narratives from nine storytellers who delve into pressing questions about the ownership and exploitation of Nepal's natural resources. They explore how land, forests and rivers have been exploited, affecting local communities and biodiversity.

The exhibition showcases works created during a nine-month fellowship programme.  Photography, video and other multimedia are used to critically examine human-nature relationships and the impacts of resource exploitation, said Sandesh Ghimire, Press Coordinator of Nepal Art Council.  The photo exhibition highlighted cases like Godavari, where entire hills have been eroded due to excessive mining for construction materials. This raises the question: Who owns these hills?

Similarly, in Makwanpur, the construction of a cable car project has led to deforestation, with locals still struggling to protect their forests. In Jogidaha, politicians promised a new airport, leading to the destruction of 156 hectares of forest.

While the logs were sold, the airport remains unbuilt, sparking debate over the ownership and misuse of the forest resources. 

According to Ghimire, nine fellowships were provided to bring these stories from different areas of the country. 

One of the fellows, Sara Tucci Koich, documented the degradation of forests and natural resources in the Mukkumlung-Pathibhara forest of Taplejung, where a new cable car construction project has begun. 

She has emphasised the importance of global solidarity in tackling such issues, stating, “The world is facing a tipping point. We must rethink how we coexist with nature.” Her narrative, along with others, highlights the urgent challenges of environmental conservation and the socio-political factors shaping resource management.

The fellowship was provided by Photo.c ircle and the fellows collaborated with mentors to create their works, which critically analyse government policies and their impact on natural resource management. 

Mentor Banu Dhungana said that the exhibition provides a space for critical reflection. He said that the exhibition challenged the core of Nepal’s resource policies, offering a space for much-needed criticism.

The exhibition curator, Nayan Tara Gurung Kakshapati, posed a poignant question: “As our forests, rivers, and lands face relentless exploitation, what happens to the stories, rituals, and cultural identities tied to them?” 

Artists featured in the exhibition include Aman Shah, Amit Machamasi, Dipak Pote, Shor Maharjan, Sara Tucci Koich, Yanka Talachhan, Sameer Shah, Sandeep Dolma, Sanjay Adhikari and Reena Nepal.