Alliance Baza{a}r

What, When, Where, Who and How?

Alliance Baza{a}r September-October 2010

Patan Durbar Square Patan Museum KCAC www.planetnepal.org.np

Special edition

2 | Alliance Baza{a}r | September-October 2010

Editorial Namaste!

Dear Friends, Be ready to live an exceptional event this October, save your dates!

All of the Alliance Française’s team joins me to announce you, with pleasure and pride, the first festival of the Arts of the Environment: Planet Nepal. This festival will take place on the coming October 29, 30 and 31 at Patan Durbar Square, and Patan Museum. Planet Nepal is a multidisciplinary event organized by CulturesFrance, The French Embassy in Nepal, and the Alliance Française in Kathmandu and is the very first of its kind in Nepal. Why organizing such a festival? Because environment doesn’t concern only scientists, because Nepal, located on the top of the world, is directly affected by climate change, and because by displaying their own vision of the world artists can increase public awareness towards environment. These are the reasons why this big event will see the light on the coming October 29, 30 and 31. Planet Nepal receives the support of the Government of Nepal, and the Nepal Tourism Board.

It is about the biggest event ever organized by the Alliance Française in Kathmandu! Various concerts of Nepalese and French musical bands, exceptional artistic performances, artist exhibitions (Plastic arts, Landart, Photography), screening of documentaries, scientific conferences organized by our partners ENPHO and ICIMOD gathering together Nepalese and French scientists, and many more surprises designs the program of Planet Nepal during these three consecutive days. Don't miss to visit Kathmandu Contemporary Arts Center from November 3 to 10 to discover more about Planet Nepal, including the amazing 5 metre high Recycled Buddha by Karl Knapp and more. For updates on the festival visit our website www.planetnepal.org.np, and join the Planet Nepal Facebook group.

On the occasion of this exceptional event, the Alliance Française in Kathmandu had the idea of a music album that brings together artists very close to our institution, and that we’ve been supporting for years. This album called “Recycled Music, Planet Nepal” has gathered together Kutumba, Nirnaya Da’Nsk and Bijaya Vaidya. The musicians composed an original song called “Together for the Mother” which video clip is already broadcasted on Kantipur TV. I’ll see you on the coming October 29, at 6pm, at Patan Durbar square for the grand opening of Planet Nepal!

Stay tuned!

Elise Tassin Director

Opening Hours Institution - general.afk@gmail.com Monday to Friday 7 am - 7 pm Library Monday to Friday 8 am - 6.30 pm Alliance Française in Kathmandu Tripureshwor, Teku road (next to Xerox showroom) P.O. Box 452, Kathmandu, Nepal Phone : + 977 (1) 4241163 / 4242832 Fax : + 977 (1) 4242621 E-mail : general.afk@gmail.com Website : www.alliancefrancaise.org.np

Campus France Desk - katmandou@campusfrance.org Monday to Friday 11.30 am - 6.30 pm Translation Desk - traduction.afk@gmail.com Mon/Tue/Fri 9.30 am - 12.30 pm Bistrot Monday to Friday

7 am - 6.30 pm Alliance Baza{a}r | September-October 2010 | 3

Intro

PLANET NEPAL

a multidisciplinary festival Since the Copenhagen Climate Conference 2009, plenty of articles have been written, plenty of interesting initiatives have been set up. Hopefully, many didn’t wait for this large media coverage to act while others realize today that the planet we’ll pass on to the future generations will have nothing in common with the one we live in today. According to specialists, the expression “climate refugees” won’t be just a concept but a freezing reality; glaciers will continue to shrink, intensity of cyclones will increase, many animal species will disappear, and the list is not exhaustive.

Today it is time to act. We are told there is no time to point out again and again at politicians, multinationals, or industrialized countries. Everyone at an individual level can act. We must act!

Every single day, a simple act, if repeated by all, can make a change.

The environmental issues are not the specialities of the Alliance Française in Kathmandu. We are better known for teaching French, organizing concerts or promoting artists. But so it is we have reached a point where we can’t go on saying, “this is not our problem”, “we don’t know much about it”.

Last year, on June 5, 2009, the Alliance Française in Kathmandu organized its first practical action to become an active actor of the environmental development by installing on its buildings, in partnership with ENPHO, a system for harvesting rainwater. On this occasion, Bhushan Tuladhar, director of ENPHO, led discussions presenting simple solutions accessible to all on fields such as management of household refuses, management of water and domestic pollution through emission of CO2. The documentary, HOME, by French Director Yann Arthus-Bertrand, was screened on this very occasion on Kantipur TV. This year, the Alliance Française in Kathmandu decided to organize in October the first ever Festival of Arts and Environment: Planet Nepal. This Festival is supported by and co-organized with CulturesFrance, French Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs’ agency, and the French Embassy in Nepal.

The idea of Planet Nepal is to have artistic actions interacting with contemporary Nepal environmental issues. Nepalese and French artists will be gathered together for this event of a large scale in order to make us think on our own environment; thanks to their creativity and their own vision of the world. ICIMOD and ENPHO, alongside with European scientists will speak on scientific issues to complete the artistic expression.

Planet Nepal is not a grumpy preacher Festival where scientific theories remains mystery to a large audience. You would rather expect a festival made of artistic performances, concerts, installations, documentaries, photos, scientific round tables accessible to all, etc.

The organizing team insists on thanking all the partners, especially the Ministry of Culture, the Department of Archeology, Municipality of Patan and Patan Museum, that are giving this Festival the chance to come to light on one of the most beautiful place of the world.

Planet Nepal, Festival of Arts and Environment gives you rendezvous on October 29, 30 & 31, 2010, at Patan Durbar Square and Patan Museum.

4 | Alliance Baza{a}r | September-October 2010

Interview

Interview with Olivier Poivre d'Arvor, former director, CulturesFrance

by Karine Brun, Ethic Radio (www.radioethic.com) Mr. Poivre d’Arvor, you are the Director of CulturesFrance, the French Agency that aims to bring the French creation beyond borders.

Could you tell us in a few words about all these activities?

Olivier Poivre d'Arvor: We are for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Ministry of Culture, and also for many territorial collectivities, bodies and operators that support this French creation in various fields such as theatre, dance, music, movie, plastic art, literature, and architecture at the international level, all over the world, where we do work in 60 countries through partnerships, or through our network of Embassies and Cultural Services. We also do welcome a lot of foreign cultural events in France. We are not the only one to take care of international exchanges, even cultural, but let’s say we are the agency in charge of that file for the French Government.

Very well. It seems that in October 29-31 will take place a first multidisciplinary festival called Planet Nepal in Kathmandu, in the old city of Patan, at the foot of the Himalaya. This is a festival articulating the environmental concern to arts and living performances I think, and I would like to ask you the following question: what was your first impulse and from which idea this idea comes from?

OPA: Well it is a kind of evidence and ultimately I was wondering why we haven’t done it earlier? I recalled the imbalance of the discourses, at the same time very committed and creative of designers and artists, and the fact that there is finally very few encounters between arts, creation, entertainments, pleasures, and the concerns of our generation, that are today's environmental issues. And I think that instead of organizing never ending Kathmandu came up, as colloquies, that are sometimes not followed by facts, it would it is an extremely unique be much more important to organize “Woodstock”! That means place, preserved but at important moments of gathering of people around a certain the same time extremely number of ideas and causes. Obviously Kathmandu came up, as endangered for its it is an extremely unique place, preserved but at the same time ecosystem. extremely endangered for its ecosystem, especially regarding the melting of the glaciers. So I wanted to do this, at this very place where a-priori we, French, haven’t done a lot in the cultural field, but where scientists and travelers have been attracted for decades by all these highest and beautiful peaks, the most beautiful mountains in the world.

As a matter of fact, the symbolic speaks for itself, and to end with I would like to ask you what would be the expected repercussions of such an event, and what would be its own future?

OPA: Well, instead of having pictures of mountaineers trekking is the wonderful mountains of Nepal, I think it is important to see artists like musicians, singers like Lo'Jo, Tryo, or virtual concerts, but also Artists, who will three days long enlighten this beautiful city that is Kathmandu, and who will at the same time give their own sonority and talk with scientists. And I count on the pictures and the sounds of this singular exchange to travel beyond Nepal and attract people for other festivals of that kind, and that Planets, Planet Bangladesh, Planet Bolivia, or wherever else, be created at the four corners of the globe for ecology not to be only a political concern, but also a commitment of artists and designers, and bring together audiences around that particular cause.

Alliance Baza{a}r | September-October 2010 | 5

Schedule Friday, October 29th

FREE ENTRANCE

Patan Museum 11am Opening of the scientific roundtables with ENPHO and ICIMOD Theme : Himalayan glaciers melting (in English) 2pm Documentary Screening : Ushua誰a, by Nicolas Hulot (Nepali Version) 3pm Scientific roundtable with ENPHO - Theme : Air In search for a breath of fresh air (in Nepali) 4pm Documentary Screening : Home, by Yann Arthus Bertrand (Nepali Version) Patan Durbar Square 5.30pm Official opening 5.55pm Light installation by Karl Knapp 6pm Kutumba Concert 6.30pm Performance Installation Fusion by Karl Knapp and Salil Subedi 7pm Lo'Jo Trio Concert, French Jazz Band

Saturday, October 30th Patan Museum 11am Scientific roundtable with ENPHO - Theme : Pollution by plastics (in Nepali) 2pm Documentary Screening : Ushua誰a, by Nicolas Hulot (French Version) 3pm Scientific roundtable with ICIMOD - Theme : Floods and disaster in Context of Climate Change (in English) Patan Durbar Square 11am Start of an all day performance by students from Kathmandu University Centre for Art and Design & Lalit Kala Campus 12pm Exposition of the "Rickshaw Project" and meeting with the artists 3pm Performance by Salil Subedi "Mandala Island" - interactions with the audience 4pm Rock Sitar and Lo'jo Trio Concert 7pm Tryo Concert, French Reggae Band

Sunday, October 31st Patan Museum 11am Scientific roundtable with ENPHO - Theme : Water pollution and water treatment (in Nepali) 12pm Movie Screening Pani (Water) by Sushma Joshi (in Nepali with English subtitles) (28 min) Followed by a discussion with Director Sushma Joshi 2pm Documentary Screening : Home, by Yann Arthus Bertrand (English Version) 3pm Scientific roundtable with ICIMOD - Theme : Carbon Trading (in English) 4pm Conference and Discussion with Fairplaylist, "Music Industry and environment" Patan Durbar Square 3pm Performance by Salil Subedi 4pm Tryo unplugged concert, French reggae band 7pm Planet Nepal concert with Kutumba, Nirnaya Da'NSK and Rock Sitar

From 3RD TO 10TH November "Planet Nepal exhibition" at Kathmandu Contemporary Arts Center (www.kathmanduarts.org) Opening 2nd November 5.30 PM 6 | Alliance Baza{a}r | September-October 2010

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Patan Museum Courtyard # 1 PHOTO EXHIBITION HIMALAYA - Changing Landscapes

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Shiva Temple INSTALLATION VIDEO & SCULPTURE

by Karl Knapp

Patan Museum Courtyard # 1 ART INSTALLATION IMPERMANENCE by french artist Rodolphe Huguet

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INSTALLATIONS PHOTO EXHIBITIONS CONCERTS ROUND TABLE FILM SCREENINGS Alliance Baza{a}r | September-October 2010 | 7

Art

Contemporary Art & Environment TEXT & ILLUSTRATIONS BY KARL KNAPP |

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www.planetnepal.org.np/bio/karl

lanet Nepal is a great opportunity for artists to use they're creative energy to high light the current environmental crisis. Issues from Global warming to urban and rural pollution are the catalysis for developing artistic concepts and works of art related to this theme. I believe this is a very important strategy. The imagination of a populace is a vast and fetal regain. If art of this nature can make an effect on the population of an area maybe a more long lasting result can be achieved. Even an image of one of these art piece, transmitted on the web, can circulate in the cyber world and can generate relevant thought on the subject of the environment.

Art has been used for propaganda purposes though out the history of mankind. It is always an effective tool.

This is exactly why Planet Nepal is a very valid attempt to reach out to people, not only in Nepal and France, but through out the world, using art as a light to enlighten this urgent world problem we all are facing.

My work for Planet Nepal is based around three different artistic endeavors. A 5 meter Buddha sculpture with the title of Recycled Buddha, An large scale out door installation using multi screen video projection and performance, and a light installation interacting with the existing architecture located in the Durbar square setting.

The first Piece "Recycled Buddha" is an attempt to use the philosophy of Buddhism as the point of departure.

The Buddha is covered with recycled plastic bags collected, washed and attached on the surface. As Buddhism speaks of the recycled aspect of the human soul, with its circular motion and its attempt at cleansing to reach nirvana, the same action takes place with the creation of this piece. It is the form of Buddha which gives the base material (plastic

8 | Alliance Baza{a}r | September-October 2010

bags) its beauty and nobility.

The second work is an installation made out of a structure of Bamboo 20 feet tale which will support large flag like cloths. These flags will have forms of the animal kingdom made out of discarded rappers of instant noodles and potato chips. The piece will be located out side in the Durbar square. At night another element, a video shot in the Langtang mountains will be added. In addition this installation will be the setting for a performance by Salil Subedi and Kutumba which will interact with the installation and video.

The third work is a light installation painting the area around the festival with color for the night. The temples and beautiful buildings at this location are an ideal chance to use this relatively new approach to large scale art. Plus the exact amount of electricity used for this installation will be estimated and an equation will be work out comparing it with the use of light on the Champ Elysees. Example: 3 days of the lighting this installation equals 67 seconds of lighting the Champs Elysees. This way a real understanding of how much energy is used in certain places of excess in the world will be generated.

Karl Knapp is a FrenchAmerican artist now living and working in Marseille, France.

His work combines traditional approaches to art with more experimental avenues.

October 29th-31st | 5.55 PM | Patan Durbar Square Light installation by Karl Knapp.

Friday, October 29th | 6.30 PM | Patan Durbar Square Performance Installation Fusion by Karl Knapp and Salil Subedi 3-10 November | Kathmandu Contemporary Art Center Planet Nepal exhibition - The Recycled Buddha by Karl Knapp

Art

What is contemporary art?* TEXT BY SALIL SUBEDI KANIKA |

N

www.planetnepal.org.np/bio/salil

ow we stand at a juncture of time, and a very crucial time at that, to debate on the word 'contemporary' itself. Crucial, because it is time now for art to take a rapid move towards its intrinsic value of its very being as to why art was invented by the human culture in the first place; and outrightly take up resistance from its hegemonised, subjugated and pathetic state of it being patronised by a handful of people inconspicuously demeriting the value of true art by controlling it under private scrutinized spaces and not undertaking art as a social movement, but rather trading art as objects, to yield larger surplus and thus denying the pragmatic essence of art to take its effect in the lives of every child woman and man in the society to bring them closer to 'Nature Awareness'.

So is art, whose highest purpose still stands as having no meaning, yet a practical tool to lay a bridge to achieve our parallel and equanimous existence with nature? If so, in this process, how much democratic we can be towards nature? The creations in the nature does bring awe to our senses, but with parenthesis attached - like the golden hued Himalayan range at dawn (threatened by climate change), silky polar ice caps (rapidly melting) upon which tiny white dot of a polar bear cub (definitely endangered) walks with her mother, multi hued tropical flowers contrasting in the green Amazonian rain forests (rapidly depleting) against the backdrop of a blue rain washed sky (filling with excess carbon), the two million year old descendant of Rhinos in Chitwan (almost poached to extinction) or those self illuminating tiny florescent aquatic fellows in the ocean bedsâ&#x20AC;Ś (spilled with toxic waste). It has become impossible to express nature without mentioning human imposition upon it.

Let's reason the indications that people like Dorje Sherpa in Junbesi and Ajmeri Khatun of Chandranigahapur portrayed by NayanTara and Prawin (Pg. 14 & 15), or any traditional farmer in the Bungamati rim of Patan for instance are depicting; people in close contact with Earth indicate - "it's getting late", people in race to stock capital indicate - "never too late". What would an artist choose?

Don't artists who by nature are known to have ability to wield contact with the being and the existence should wake up to the call of the ailing planet hereand-now? Karl's Recycled Plastic Buddha (pg. 8) tosses a serious inquiry into recycling our own mind in our understanding of nature and culture itself as we head towards uncertain future. Isn't this being

'contemporary'?

My performance in Planet Nepal has a foundation of this thought. It is a very personal choice. I am crossfusing elements of street theatre, live art, improvised traditional and contemporary music and dance - all in the spirit of capturing the carnivalesque nature of human beings closely linked to the ecological rhythm and cycle such as in the Newari culture, with an intention to stimulate environmental awareness and sensitize the already-informed urban population to take practical actions. The theme is Eco Identity: Eco, being ambiguous for both economy and ecology - "What constructs the identity of a person dwelling between these two meanings in the modern world, and, which element determines their choice to sustain life? Then where among human identity, stands the identity of the nature as a being?" The performance is a collaborative work with traditional artists from Patan's Jyapu Cultural Society and contemporary EarthBeat Theatre together with public in the form of a Jatra or a procession with special focus to endangered species, environment and cultural practices. The inner alleys, courtyard and Bahas will be the space of performance as the procession moves from one location to the next before it keeps looping back to the Patan Durbar Square for two continuous days. During the process, the public participates to speak and debate their 'Eco Identity' through a 'traveling window' which will be filmed live and later made into a video collage. Therefore the performance is now freshly titled - "Jatra of Choice". *Art: music, theatre, performance, painting, audio, film, etc Salil Subedi Kanika is a contemporary Nepali performance artist who interweaves a broad spectrum of artistic and social expression through sound, colours and performance and live happenings.

Saturday, October 30th | 3 PM | Patan Durbar Square Performance by Salil Subedi "Mandala Island" interaction with the audience.

Alliance Baza{a}r | September-October 2010 | 9

Art

RODOLPHE HUGUET

A FRENCH CONTEMPORARY ARTIST INSTALLATIONS IMPERMANENCE BY RODOLPHE HUGUET |

www.planetnepal.org.np/bio/rodolphe

Rodolphe Huguet offers an artistic work that blends gentleness and violence in a kind of exploration around the boundaries of real and metaphorical materials. By the turn of a gentle derision in which he comes to staging, it emphasizes our beliefs and socio-cultural cues that shape the representation and transformation of reality. Listening to fine expressions of traditional materials as the most contemporary techniques, he developed a practice in which humor offset does not exclude violence, attention to details coincides with the more assertive unreason. Indeed, his works are imbued with a certain activism for merchants processes through which representation of reality is a territorial identity. Then he took on the role of costume and dress culture of Western societies for us led to acerbic caricature of our own benchmarks.

In wrestling with projects that go beyond any sense of proportion, he finds a way to build a fantasy world that recalls both the adventures of Jules Verne's with the obsession for criticism of Thomas Bernhard. We do not know where the game begins, and what requires further metaphorical violence of reality. In Quebec, Rodolphe Huguet has published and distributed an ads magazine offering to acquire with the plethoric serious of commercial speech of the St. Laurent's icebergs. In India, he asked painters of movie posters to put him on stage in the costume of Father Christmas in ten arms of Siva and was filmed in an improvised dance in the street standing on the rack a cyclist. If the irony sometimes seems to dominate his work, it is always generous. His wagers are always sincere and motivated by the honest intention of playing with the public as his accomplices. Don't miss Impermanence, the new art installation created in Nepal by Rodolphe Huguet for Planet Nepal.

Behind Rodolphe : Self portrait Photo frame with gold leaf (2010) size 128 x 98cm October 29th-31st | Patan Museum Courtyard # 1 IMPERMANENCE by Rodolphe Huguet

Environment friendly environment TEXT BY ASHMINA RANJIT|

www.planetnepal.org.np/bio/ashmina

All the scientific roundtables and presentations will happen "inside" the Ashmina's Ranjit installation.

The public and the scientists are themselves a part of the artist work Here, in the Patan Museum, where a major restoration project has helped us to recover and preserve some memories in a space of affluence and elegance, I seek through a sitespecific installation – Mun Jya: the conference’ – to invite participants to rethink their relationships with nature, to remember harmonies with nature and to imagine alternative lifestyles different from the daily rituals of synthetic modernity.

My concern is neither about the globalization nor about localization 10 | Alliance Baza{a}r | September-October 2010

but the space where one’s anxiety overwhelms ones’ integrity of one’s relationship with the nature – the mother earth and questions even on one’s existence.

This installation reconfigures the courtyard of Patan Museum by using eco-friendly natural materials : the site specific installation – Mun: Jyathe conference’–created with eco friendly organic materials such as mud, leaf- shaped straw mats (Sukusuku), and chairs made out constructed of grasses etc…

The site-specific socio-natural installation was created of using nature’s materials and processes cutting, bending, weaving, knitting and placing them - within a cultural

sphere. Ephemeral and earth-bound, this installation establishes links with nature, reminding us that the nature is both a spiritual source and practical provider for human’s needs.

Ashmina Ranjit is an interdisciplinary visual artist.

Ranjit’s works are designed to increase awareness of crucial ongoing social and political issues of marginalized communities.

October 29th-31st | Patan Museum Courtyard # 2 Indigenous Modernities by Ashimna Ranjit

Art

Rickshaw Project sujan chitrakar | www.planetnepal.org.np/bio/sujan SANJANA JOSHI | www.planetnepal.org.np/bio/sanjana OM KHATRI | www.planetnepal.org.np/bio/om

The rickshaw is a unique part of the urban landscape in old part of Kathmandu. It is mostly popular amongst the people who have been environmentally conscious and many tourists also prefer them instead of other vehicles for the same reason.

The rickshaw has been chosen because of its ecologically sound mode of propulsion.

Three man-pulled rickshaws will be the base for 3 separate conceptual artistic statements. 3 internationally known Nepali artists are creating each a concept to transform a rickshaw into to a highly visual mobile art piece. Also its ability to catch the attention and activate the imagination of the public at large as they circulate through the neighbourhoods and public places in the city.

Before the Festival, these mobile art pieces will travel around the city, individuals whose role will be to encounter the public and engage them in the issues of the environment will accompany them. Pamphlets about environment issues and the role, in which people can help, will be given out.

During the Festival, the 3 rickshaws will serve as an art installation and again a point of information and education. The three, grouped together will create, at the same time, a visual experience and a camp for dispatching information to the public.

sujan chitrakar

Before the festival Rickshaws will be running around the Kathmandu city.

October 29th-31st "Rickshaw Project" will be displayed at Patan Durbar Square November 3rd-10th "Rickshaw Project" will be displayed at Kathmandu Contemporary Arts Center

sujan chitrakar

SANJANA JOSHI Alliance Baza{a}r | September-October 2010 | 11

Science

10 simple

Established in 1990, ENPHO is working in close partnership with various government, non government and community based organizations to conduct the following activities : - Conduct research and develop appropriate technologies that are acceptable to local communities - Demonstrate eco-friendly technologies and practices - Develop and implement effective strategies to promote eco-friendly technologies - Network with partners for coordination and advocacy - Enhance organizational capacity ENPHO is governed by a General Assembly comprising of 73 members and is managed 40 staffs.

things we can do for our home 1. Recycle your waste, make compost or biogas from organic waste and give your inorganic waste to the scrap dealers 2. Use a cloth bag while going shopping Reduce the use of plastic bags 3. Harvest rain water and use it 4. Treat your wastewater using a septic tank or other methods and recycle the water if possible

ENPHO Environment and Public Health Organization 110/25 â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Aaadarsha Marg, New Baneshwor PO BOX 4102, Kathmandu, NEPAL Email : enpho@mail.com.np Web : www.enpho.org

5. Use clean transportation such as walking, cycling or electric vehicles or public transportation

Roundtables discussions in partnership with ENPHO at Patan Museum during the festival with Nepali scientists, social workers, etc.

Facilitated by Bhushan Tuladhar.

All the discussions will be in Nepali.

Friday, 29th | 3PM | Patan Museum Courtyard # 2 In search for a breath of fresh air Saturday, 30th | 11AM | Patan Museum Courtyard # 2 Pollution by plastics Sunday, 31st | 11AM | Patan Museum Courtyard # 2 Water pollution and water treatment

8. Teach yourselves and your children to love and respect nature

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6. Plant a tree and take care of it 7. Celebrate your cultural heritage

9. Support local initiatives and raise your voice civil society can make a difference 10. Close your eyes and think, Am I part of the pollution or the solution?

Science ICIMOD is an independent regional knowledge and learning centre serving eight member countries in the Hindu Kush-Himalayan region, as well as the global mountain community. Founded in 1983, ICIMOD is based in Kathmandu, Nepal.

ICIMOD brings together a partnership of regional member countries, partner institutions, and donors with a commitment to secure a better future for the mountain people and environment ICIMOD believes in a future where mountain people have enhanced livelihoods and increased social and environmental security, and where the benefits and opportunities afforded to the region by nature can be enjoyed for generations to come.

International Centre Mountain Development Phone +977 1 500 32 22 Fax +977 1 500 32 99 www.icimod.org

for

Integrated

Roundtables discussions in partnership with ICIMOD with water specialist, glaciologist, French scientists from CNRS. All the discussions will be in English.

Friday, 29th | 11AM | Patan Museum Courtyard # 2 Himalayan Glaciers melting Saturday, 30th | 3PM | Patan Museum Courtyard # 2 Floods and disaster in context with Climate Change Sunday, 31st | 3PM | Patan Museum Courtyard # 2 Carbon trading

Photo Exhibition BY ICIMOD at patan museuM

Himalaya - Changing Landscapes

Repeat photography of Imja glacier and lake, Nepal, at an interval of 50 years. Top photo caption: Imja glacier 1956 (Photo: Fritz Muller, archives of Alton Byers, The Mountain Institute, courtesy Jack Ives) Bottom photo caption: Imja Glacier 2007 (Alton Byers, The Mountain Institute) Alliance Baza{a}r | September-October 2010 | 13

Photo Project

A WEATHERED PEOPLE PHOTOGRAPHS BY NAYANTARA GURUNG KAKSHAPATI www.planetnepal.org.np/bio/nayantara TEXT BY PRAWIN ADHIKARI www.planetnepal.org.np/bio/prawin

ABOUT THIS PROJECT Khumbu, also known as the Everest region, is one of the three sub-regions of Sherpa settlement in the Himalayas. The region attracts visitors from around the globe; mountaineering and tourism has now replaced traditional trade and farming to become the backbone of the Khumbu economy and culture.

Imja glacial lake, created only in the last century by a prodigious retreat of the glacier, is cited by researchers as a potential disaster for Khumbu: An outburst would sweep away many a downstream settlement, destroy infrastructures and jeopardize communities, and forever destroy parts of an ancient culture.

There is plenty of information regarding the potential of this and other glacial lake outbursts in the Khumbu region, but there is very little documentation of the human aspect: How do Khumbu people perceive this threat? What change in climate have they experienced? What alarms them most? What is the solution to these perceived problems?

Where should the solutions come from?

A clear separation of opinions and attitude seems to exist. One group is not sure about the signs of change; it is restless and angry, demanding scientific solutions. It sees the retreat of glaciers in the Himalayas as the result of the hubris of the industrial nations.

It sees its future threatenedâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;language, culture, livelihood, all melting away with the snow on the mountains, and lives in constant paranoia that glacial lakes will burst and sweep away all of Khumbu.

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CHINA Mt. Everest Imja Lake

Dharan Lahan

Koshi Bridge Itahari

Rajbiraj

Biratnagar

INDIA

Many others have asked us these questions. What good has come out of it? They raise money from others, come here for their own business and to scare us. Hundreds of bridges between here and the Terai will all be washed away by any flood. Will it cost more to siphon water out of Imja or to rebuild those bridges? Researchers ask us if we will relocate. To where?

Are we animals in the jungle to run hither-thither? We have built homes here. Our livelihood is here. If a flood takes us, let it. If it comes, let it.

Dorje Sherpa Junbeshi/Phakding | Entrepreneur

Everybody sends new researchers to Dorje Sherpa , because he is articulate and active in local affairs. He encourages fellow villagers to save the forests, to regulate wood-harvesting. He wanted to collect signatures of people potentially at risk from glacial lake floods, but they didn’t pay him any attention.

We had to live for a year in a camp for flood victims. Shripur was very famous for growing vegetables. We grew rice, onions, peppers, bittergourd, wax-gourd, greens. Women worked in the fields, earned for the family. But there is nothing for women to do now: they scratch the sand, carry soil in baskets from Inaruwa to work a bit. Some organizations distribute gourd and melon seeds, but the wind shifts the sands, blows away any effort you put into the sands. We are thinking of moving away to Inaruwa, but we will wait for a few years.

Ajmeri Khatun, 24 Chandranigahapur/Shripur Primary School Teacher

Ajmeri Khatun’s family owned 19 bigahas of fertile land, now buried under Koshi’s sand. She teaches at the primary school in Shripur. She doesn’t believe flood-victims of different faith will live together in peace in new government-built neighbourhoods.

October 29th-31st | Patan Museum Garden and Manga Hiti, Patan Durbar Square Photo exhibition"A Weathered People" by NayanTara Gurung Kakshapati and Prawin Adhikari Alliance Baza{a}r | September-October 2010 | 15

Music

Recycled Music

5 Nepalese artists, 3 styles, 1 song - Together for the Mother

a

Recycled M

irnaya Da’ N ba . N SK . As tum Ku th

a idy Va

ic us

ya ija

B

.B

On the ocassion of Planet Nepal festival, the Alliance Française in Kathmandu with support from SAC Music, wanted a very particular music album dedicated to environment. This album, called Recycled Music is a compilation of songs from various artists, includes a common song "Together for the Mother". The artists involved in this project are Kutumba (Nepalese Folk Music), Nirnaya Da’ NSK & Astha B. (Hip-Hop), Bijaya Vaidya (Rock Sitar) & famous poet Manjul Nepal (Lyrics).

All the songs have in common that they each tell a story about environment with a concept of Recycled Music.

Planet Nepal project will share with all of you this particular story on 29, 30 & 31 October, 2010. This story doesn’t belong only to the artists but to all of us, committed to act for the environment in a concrete way.

Festival of Arts & Environment

Planet Nepal album : 1. Together for the Mother Bijaya Vaidya, Kutumba, Nirnaya Da' NSK & Astha B. 2. 24-7-356 NSK Style Nirnaya Da' NSK & Astha B. 3. Folk Men Kutumba 4. Mother Nature Bijaya Vaidya The album will be released along with a video clip, which will be regularly broadcasted with our media partner, Kantipur TV. Stay Tuned !

This album will be available during Planet Nepal festival at the Patan Museum Shop.

Bijaya Vaidya

Kutumba

Bijaya Vaidya is an established Sitar Virtuoso and perhaps the most travelled and known musical Ambassador of Nepal. He has performed in thousands of concerts in major cities around the globe – most of his performance completely dedicated to charity and fund raising for social works. www.rocksitar.com

Kutumba is a folk instrumental ensemble from Nepal, committed to the research, preservation and celebration of the diversity that exists in indigenous Nepali music. www.kutumba.com.np

Sunday, October 31st | 7 PM | Patan Durbar Square Planet Nepal Concert with Kutumba, Nirnaya Da'NSK and Bijaya Baidya.

16 | Alliance Baza{a}r | September-October 2010

Nirnaya Da'NSK NSK is right now one of the most loved, respected & adored people of Nepal. He has been stated as the person who revolutionized Nepali Music by crossing hip hop over with Nepali sound, creating his own Nepali Hip Hop Sound. www.nirnaya.com.np

Music

Together for the Mother a Music Video by Karl Knapp and Arnaud Leborgne,

produced by the Alliance Française in Kathmandu and Culturesfrance

INGRID CHIRON

On the occasion of the album "Recycled Music" by Kutumba, Bijaya Vaidya and Nirnaya Da’NSK, the Alliance Française in Kathmandu has for the first time in its history produced a video clip!

The leading song of the festival Planet Nepal, “Together for the Mother”, especially written by the famous poet Manjul Nepal and put into music by Kutumba, Bijaya Vaidya and Nirnaya Da’NSK, couldn’t exist without a video clip to strengthen the impact of the project.

This video, artistically conceived by Karl Knapp and directed by Arnaud le Borgne, will be previewed beginning of October on Kantipur TV before being screened on various TV channels, Youtube, Dailymotion, the Facebook page of Planet Nepal, as and of course, on our website, www.planetnepal.org.np The idea of the clip is to spread awareness on the importance of eco friendly behavior, and to raise the question: “what planet are we going to pass on to the future generations?”

Artists are true guides who can convey their message through their art.

We hope you will hear this of Planet Nepal’s artists!

Alliance Baza{a}r | September-October 2010 | 17

Music

TRYO

The career of this band has always been atypical. Twelve years on stage. Carried by an ever growing rumour.

Songs hummed by everybody like “L’hymne de nos campagnes” or “Désolé pour hier soir”. Today Tryo has become one of the most popular french band.

In 1995, Guizmo and Manu met a young comedian and musician, Christophe Mali. That’s how Tryo was born. Then they met the percussionist Daniel “Danielito” Bravo. At first, their music was acoustic with a strong reggae influence. Two first albums follow each other in 1998 and in 2000, “Marnagubida” and “Faut qu’ils s’activent”. New influences inspire them in their third album ” Grain de sable” (2000). Their songs are full of life.

Committed, sensitive and open to the world as well, they stay true to their values like the right to be different.

Besides the band is actively involved by the side of the Greenpeace association to draw attention to the worldwide emergencies. That’s the reason why their music and lyrics travel with the curiosity of globe-trotters.

Their fourth studio album “Ce que l’on sème” confirms this evolution offering a musical range with new sounds from all over the world like for instance “El dulce de leche”. Their last tour in France was a great success and ended last December on the 16th in the biggest concert hall in Paris, Bercy. More than 16000 persons, more than three hours of performance and an incredible show with numerous guests like Pablo Mendez on percussions or about fifty musicians from a samba school. www.tryo.com

Lo’Jo Trio The three singers of Lo’Jo as a trio accompanied by the N’Goni, “African eight strings harp”, the Indian Harmonium and some percussion. Some Lo’Jo’s songs, some originals, bared versions, history traces on a fragile craft. Hanged words, ropes of silence, forge’s sparks, remnants of adventure on a suitcase ready for the departure. Nadia and Yamina Nid El Mourid, and Denis Péan, acrobates on the tightened thread of existence; they throw sparks, words with two faces, nomads’ fable. www.last.fm/music/Lo'Jo

Friday, 29th | 7PM | Patan Durbar Square Lo'Jo Trio Concert Saturday, 30th | 4PM | Patan Durbar Square Lo'Jo Trio Unplugged Concert Saturday, 30th | 7PM | Patan Durbar Square Tryo Concert Sunday, 31st | 4PM | Patan Durbar Square Tryo Unplugged Concert

18 | Alliance Baza{a}r | September-October 2010

Music

FairPlayList, a French organization, will be present during the 3 days Festival of Planet Nepal for discussion and interaction with our local partners.

FAIRPLAYLIST at a glance

Since 2003, Fairplaylist offers an umbrella organisation for all initiatives that support creativity and musical diversity, as well as more equitable relationships between all actors in the music chain – from conception to the distribution of music.

Gathering artists, producers, promoters and venue owners, journalists and music fans, Fairplaylist is creating a musical new deal, more ecological and equitable. In order to turn these principles into reality, Fairplaylist aims at:

• gathering

different actors of the music production chain who acknowledge sustainable development and fair trade as baseline principles, with the aim of redefining music production, distribution and retail

• test

and assess the feasability of new relationships and sharing of value between artists, producers, distributors and performance place, in order to develop the basis for a new economy of the music chain, following the principles of solidarity and equity.

• federating initiatives that promote creativity

and musical diversity as well as more equitable relationships between stakeholders of the musical chain.

• developing a more equitable and ecological

musical chain based on clear specifications and the development of a new guarantee system.

•

creating and facilitating a network of exchange and research on «musical ecology»

• participating

and organizing festivals and public gatherings around topics like equity in music, sustainable development, education and ethical fashion.

FairPlayList is member of UNESCO’s Global Alliance for Cultural Diversity, which supports cultural diversity by reinforcing cultural industries, such as music, films and editing houses in developing countries.

It promotes the respect of intellectual diversity and encourages public-private partnerships between its members.

Sunday, 31st October | 4 PM | Patan Museum Courtyard # 2 Conference discussion with FairPlayList on music Industry and environment .

Alliance Baza{a}r | September-October 2010 | 19

Documentaries USHUAÏA NATURE In urban India to Nepal, the flamboyant contrast offered by these two peoples is the culmination of Ushuaia Nature. The presenter, Nicolas Hulot, took part in a silent retreat in the majestic mountains of the Himalayas and a mad cross the Indian megalopolis where man and nature live in perfect harmony. Symbiosis of man and the elements of nature, these people live as one. Surprising and puzzling magic, go for a single trip. The Mustang region of northeastern Nepal, the thundering cities of Vrindavan and Haridwar in India through the desert Rajahstan, Nicolas Hulot and his team went out to meet men like no other.

ASHOK R SHAKYA

HOME HOME is a 2009 documentary by Yann Arthus-Bertrand. The film is entirely composed of aerial shots of various places around the Earth. It shows the diversity of life on the Earth and how humanity is threatening the ecological balance of the planet. The movie was released on June 5th 2009, simultaneously in cinemas all over the world.

Pani (Water) Pani documents the lively discussions between the inhabitants of Lele, a rural Nepali village, about the daily problems of their water supply system and its management. The film follows the growing conflict in the community after the installation of a water pipe and tap system. Gender and caste differences play a vital part in the disputes as women and lower caste members are excluded from decision making even though they are the principal users. The film tracks the wide disparity in control and communication revealing frustrations that result in the pipe being cut and maintenance fees unpaid. The lesson portrayed is that even small scale models of development will not work unless traditional social infrastructure, especially gender biases and cultural discrimination, are addressed by donors and local managers. Selected for the Himalayan Film Festival, London, October 2007. 2000 | 28 min | Director: Sushma Joshi.

Kantipur TV will be broadcasting USHUAÏA and Home for the first time in Nepali.

Friday, 29th October| Patan Museum Gallery 2PM USHUAÏA (Nepali version) 4PM Home (Nepali version) Saturday, 30th | 2PM | Patan Durbar Square USHUAÏA (French version) Sunday, 31st | 12PM | Patan Durbar Square 12PM Pani (Water) in Nepali with English subtitles, followed by a discussion with Director Sushma Joshi 2PM Home (English version) 20 | Alliance Baza{a}r | September-October 2010

Sponsors & Supporters

Festival of Arts & Environment

Planet Nepal a festival organized by

Supported by

Delegation of the European Union to Nepal

Nepal Government

Sponsored by

In partnership with

Kathmandu University School of Arts

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www.photocircle.com.np

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