silent doorways, dark windows and soulful streets – Siddhartha Art Gallery 2005  (2010)

Nepal – Pictures of an Exhibition

This book of my first solo photography exhibition displays all the exhibited photographs, the hanging in the gallery, some images of the inauguration, and samples of the press. The exhibition took place at ‘Siddhartha Art Gallery’ in Kathmandu, located in the beautiful ‘Barbar Mahal‘, a former part of the old Rana-style King’s palace complex of seven historic courtyards and lanes, originally built in 1919.

During my years in Nepal I did several photography exhibitions, solo as well as group (together with Nepalese painters and poets) and with the Nepalese artists group ‘SUTRA‘ an installation on the Patan Durbar Square. Most of the exhibitions have been about unique heritages of Nepal. The central idea of my heritage series is the search for unique human symbols and objects of certain societies and countries, regardless of which ethnic, religion or political groups. I put them into a new, sometimes unexpected context to discover what they all have in common.

My focus is on what is unifying us on this planet, rather than what is dividing us. I present a specific tradition as a unique part of a global culture. To strengthen this, I mix different medias and work together with other artists of different fields and nationalities.

In my view humanity should aims for peace and harmony, within families, between people, ethnic groups, religions, as well as cities, countries, nations. Each one of us has the power and the duty to participate in this timeless dream. Today, we have the consciousness, the knowledge and the means to reach it.

Heritage is much more than only objects or symbols – it’s about identity, dignity, identification with one’s own culture, society, traditions and much more. Even if one individually don’t like to follow certain traditions, a heritage object or symbol will always remind us of our roots.

What are common objects and symbols – not only ritual ones or of religious purposes ? Symbols which connect people in one region, country, continent, religion, language or whatever all over the world ? Which bring people of all kind together ? Which belong to ‘everybody’, not only to a specific group ?

Locks, as well as doors and windows can be found in every country and in almost every society around the world. This three elements making a trinity far beyond only handicraft skills. Locks made of metal require a high-level technology and need a lot of experience. The latter led to trade over far distances, first just for prestige, later for safeness.

Out of this context I developed my Nepalese heritage series, presented between 2005 and 2007 as followed:

– ‘Ancient Locks – Bothe Talsa’ at Siddhartha Art Gallery

– ‘Doors’ at NAFA (Nepal Association of Fine Arts), Dhokaima and The British Council, part of the „Khulla Dhoka“-project,

– ‘Swayambhou’ at Cafe Mitra, Kathmandu

– ’Bell’s’ with painter Manish Lal Shrestha and the Poet Manjul at Gallery 32, Kathmandu

– ‘Moods & Mazza’ with painter Pradip K. Bajracharya on Dance and music at Gallery 32

The book is also the first part of my ‘Heritage Series‘ and a draft for a much more extended version of my more than three years stay in Nepal later.

click ‚book preview‘ or use this link: http://www.blurb.com/b/3055703-exhibition-at-siddhartha-art-gallery-2005

to see the complete preview of 158 pages, Format: Large landscape (13×11″ 33x28cm)