AUG 25 -
It is not uncommon to see tourists clicking pictures of sights that Nepalis would consider a part of their daily lives. Take for example, the Basantapur Durbar Square. Despite being the archaeological marvel that it is, most locals who sit on the temples’ steps are oblivious to it. Instead, it is the tourists who click it from various angles, and provide even the locals with a perspective that is unique.
Diplomats can fall in a similar category as well. They are here to represent their respective country, but their perspective of Nepal fits in with the larger worldview that the country has. A new photo exhibition puts up the photographs clicked by the outgoing Danish Ambassador to Nepal Finn Thilsted, and the collection provides a different perspective to life in Nepal.
During Thilsted’s five-year tenure, he visited several parts of the country and took out some time to click a few aspects that interested him. The collection depicts different facets of the country—as a tourist destination, a war-torn country, a poor nation, and a country rich in diversity. “He depicts Nepal with complexities and challenges; he has maintained proper balance and has not just shown pretty facets. He has also included human and intimate moments,” says Nayantara Gurung Kakshapati, coordinator of photo.circle that organised the exhibition.
Ambassador Thilsted also believes that his pictures don’t just reflect the poverty of Nepal; rather, it has a holistic feel of the country. He says, “I could have taken much stronger pictures of poverty in Nepal if I had to.” An amateur photographer, he took photographs of a few sights that struck him as interesting and he found that it would be appropriate to have an exhibition to allow Nepalis to have a look at their country though his eyes.
“Sometimes, you need an outsider to see your country from the perspective that you don’t have because you live there,” says journalist Kunda Dixit. There were indeed photographs that Nepali would have considered nothing outside the usual; however, for a foreigner, it’s an entirely different world. Simple pictures like red chillies out to dry; three generations—grandmother, mother and daughter—of a family walking together; and breathtaking views from Nagarkot dominated the exhibit. Moreover, the caption further clarifies what the photographer wants to say through the picture. One of the best pictures was the picture of a red-thread tied around the wheels of a car (for good luck); the caption read, “Blessing a car is a nice tradition, but I am glad that I have a comprehensive insurance.”
The exhibition will continue till Aug. 29 at Yala Maya Kendra in Patan. Admission to the exhibit is free.
It is not uncommon to see tourists clicking pictures of sights that Nepalis would consider a part of their daily lives. Take for example, the Basantapur Durbar Square. Despite being the archaeological marvel that it is, most locals who sit on the temples’ steps are oblivious to it. Instead, it is the tourists who click it from various angles, and provide even the locals with a perspective that is unique.
Diplomats can fall in a similar category as well. They are here to represent their respective country, but their perspective of Nepal fits in with the larger worldview that the country has. A new photo exhibition puts up the photographs clicked by the outgoing Danish Ambassador to Nepal Finn Thilsted, and the collection provides a different perspective to life in Nepal.
During Thilsted’s five-year tenure, he visited several parts of the country and took out some time to click a few aspects that interested him. The collection depicts different facets of the country—as a tourist destination, a war-torn country, a poor nation, and a country rich in diversity. “He depicts Nepal with complexities and challenges; he has maintained proper balance and has not just shown pretty facets. He has also included human and intimate moments,” says Nayantara Gurung Kakshapati, coordinator of photo.circle that organised the exhibition.
Ambassador Thilsted also believes that his pictures don’t just reflect the poverty of Nepal; rather, it has a holistic feel of the country. He says, “I could have taken much stronger pictures of poverty in Nepal if I had to.” An amateur photographer, he took photographs of a few sights that struck him as interesting and he found that it would be appropriate to have an exhibition to allow Nepalis to have a look at their country though his eyes.
“Sometimes, you need an outsider to see your country from the perspective that you don’t have because you live there,” says journalist Kunda Dixit. There were indeed photographs that Nepali would have considered nothing outside the usual; however, for a foreigner, it’s an entirely different world. Simple pictures like red chillies out to dry; three generations—grandmother, mother and daughter—of a family walking together; and breathtaking views from Nagarkot dominated the exhibit. Moreover, the caption further clarifies what the photographer wants to say through the picture. One of the best pictures was the picture of a red-thread tied around the wheels of a car (for good luck); the caption read, “Blessing a car is a nice tradition, but I am glad that I have a comprehensive insurance.”
The exhibition will continue till Aug. 29 at Yala Maya Kendra in Patan. Admission to the exhibit is free.
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