Exhibition in Italy showcases work by three Nepali photographers

KATHMANDU: An exhibition of contemporary Nepali photography opened in Lonato del Garda, Italy, on June 11, presenting long-term projects by three photographers from Nepal.

Titled 'Nepal Today: In the Forest, In the Villages', the show features work by Kishor Sharma, Uma Bista and Sagar Chhetri and is curated by Filippo Maggia. 

Among them, Kishor Sharma contributes 'Living in the Mist', a six-year photographic project documenting the nomadic Raute community and their traditional way of life. Published as a photo book under the same name, the series offers a rare look at the Rautes’ efforts to remain autonomous amid pressures from the modern world.

Meanwhile, Uma Bista’s 'Our Songs from the Forest' follows young women in Achham district who live under the practice of Chhaupadi, which confines menstruating women to cowsheds and treats them as impure. Although outlawed in 2005 and criminalised in 2018, the tradition continues in some areas because of fear of social exclusion and religious sanction.

Another project, Sagar Chhetri’s 'Eclipse', explores identity in Madhesh, the southern belt along the Nepal-India border, and the region’s role in recent struggles over recognition and political rights.

In his introduction to the exhibition, Maggia contrasted trends in Western photography with developments in the Global South, arguing that image-making and social commitment remain highly relevant in countries such as Nepal. He wrote: "Focusing solely on photography, Nepal presents itself as a country rich in young artists exploring themes such as gender dynamics, memory and identity, postcolonial heritage, politics, society, religion, and culture. The current generation of contemporary artists is perhaps the first to have ever existed in Nepal, and their work reveals a solid artistic background and a great proactive energy, powerful content, and bold forms of expression, despite the lack of public and private facilities."

The exhibition catalogue was published by Silvana Editoriale. The project received support from the Italian Ministry of Culture under its Strategia Fotografia 2025 programme.

The exhibition, 'Nepal Today: In the Forest, In the Villages', is open to the public until August 30, 2026, in Lonato del Garda, Brescia.