Sagarmatha Next to host art and ecology exhibition in Kathmandu
June 4, Kathmandu: Sagarmatha Next, a platform dedicated to environmental awareness and contemporary art in the Himalayas, will launch an exhibition titled “At the Tipping Point: Art and Ecology from the Rooftop of the World” on Thursday( June 5) at 4 PM at Taragaon Next. Supported by the Saraf Foundation and curated by art historian Dr. Arshiya Lokhandwala, the event will explore the impact of climate change on the Himalayas and the interplay of culture and ecology.
The exhibition will feature 12 contemporary artists from Nepal and abroad, using diverse media such as video, sculpture, photography, installation, and performance to address environmental challenges. It draws attention to the Himalayas, which are warming at nearly twice the global average, signalling urgent ecological shifts. Works will connect local concerns to global landscapes, from Nepal’s rice fields to the Arctic and Andes.
Nepali artist Samyukta Bhandari will present Echoes of Survival, a piece reflecting on the decline of house sparrows amid urban growth. Amit Machamasi will document the transformation of Bhaktapur’s farmlands as urbanisation spreads. Salil Subedi will perform Earth Emergence at 5 PM, blending body, mud, and sound to evoke a deep connection to the planet. Saurganga Darshandhari will explore Nepal’s food heritage and rituals, linking cultural practices to environmental sustainability.
International artists will bring broader perspectives. Himali Singh Soin will show a video, we are opposite like that, set in the Svalbard archipelago, examining climate change and colonial legacies. Swiss artist Ursula Biemann will showcase Forest Mind, created with Colombia’s Inga community, investigating the knowledge embedded in forests. Utsa Hazarika will reimagine Delhi’s sundial as a living sculpture with jasmine in Yantra/Bloom. Maksud Ali Mondal will display Fungal Habitat, using mushroom cultures to create a dynamic installation.
The exhibition aims to spark dialogue on climate action, indigenous knowledge, and humanity’s role in a fragile ecosystem. It will blend art with science and activism, offering a platform for Nepal to address regional and global environmental concerns. A key focus is raising awareness of how ecological changes threaten livelihoods, landscapes, and cultural traditions in the Himalayas and beyond.
Sagarmatha Next seeks to position this event as a significant moment for South Asia, uniting art and ecology to inspire action. The opening will take place at Taragaon Next, a venue known for fostering cultural and creative exchange in Kathmandu.
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