Exploration of natural dyes in works of art. Creating art by reusing discarded items. Kala Salon, located at Chaya Center in Thamel, is the newest haven for art lovers with a green heart.
Downstairs is Foraging Chroma by Nepali fashion designer Meena Gurung. This exhibit reminds me of an interior shop, where the walls are decorated with intricate, artistic fabrics, but with more life. Meena Gurung uses natural materials such as plants, leaves, and bark to weave each fabric.
Gurung, founder of Bora Studio, studied fashion design in Ireland and decided to pursue her chosen path. But all that changed when Dhaka's Rana Plaza garment factory, which supplied apparel to Louis Vuitton and Zara, collapsed in 2013, killing 1,134 mostly female workers.
Riddled with guilt, Gurung realized he was part of an industry that promotes wasteful and exploitative fast fashion, contributing to superficial lifestyles, environmental degradation and climate destruction.
Upon returning to Nepal, Gurung began experimenting with natural dyes. Through her trial and error she has mastered the art of creating vibrant organic colors and textures.
She uses naturally dyed cotton sheets made through an iron bath process as canvases. Eucalyptus and guava leaves and exotic species are used as printing tools. For the past seven years, Gurung has traveled between Dolakha, Nuwakot, Tanakh and Chitwan gathering her materials and inspiration.
Exotic fallen leaves are a major theme in her work, collected from trails in community forests in Nepal. Dyes will also be on display at the exhibition, and Gurung will be on hand to explain the techniques.
“Today's world requires us to think critically about what we leave behind for future generations. How are we shaping the world and how can we live more consciously? “Is that so?” says Gurung. “There are always alternative solutions available. By being more mindful of your actions and attitude towards life, you can create positive changes.”
Gurung credits Sophia L. Pande, a fan of her work on Instagram, for encouraging her to hold the exhibition. Pande, who is also the founding director of Kara Her Salon, acknowledged the artistry of Gurung's work.
Pande said: “Mina's work is more than fashion, it's art. People need to see this.”
Gurung himself hopes that seeing this work first-hand will inspire the lifestyle changes necessary for humanity to reduce its environmental footprint.
At the top of the spacious salon, Italian artist Cinzia Battistel (pictured below) waits with her mixed media exhibition Zero to Sunya, which uses photography, paperwork and copper.
A globetrotter from a deserted village in Italy, Batistel always found himself drawn back to Nepal. Her travels inspire her artistic spirit, collecting her unique items and transforming them into her fascinating creations. The copper jewelry she made in Italy has traveled with her all over the world and found its home in this exhibition.
Batistel defies classification as a mere jewelry designer or artist and embraces all art forms. A standout piece is an astonishing combination of stiff paper, discarded face masks, and cable wires found on Kathmandu's busy roads. These transformed elements create a mesmerizing figure with “hair” made from wire, resembling a tree with leaves (pictured above).
“Wherever I travel, I take a piece of myself with me. And I look for kindred spirits – people who share my passion for creation,” explains Battistel. “This exhibition not only showcases my efforts, but is also a testament to the collaboration with friends who have refined my work and introduced me to new techniques.”
Another installation here, titled 'Purusha Prakriti', is made from cardboard and metal mesh salvaged from construction sites, displaying beauty in unexpected places.
Both exhibitions at the Chaya Center leave a lasting impression, encourage open interpretation, make viewers question wasteful and energy-intensive modern lifestyles, and encourage artistic expression to inspire positive change. indicates the possibility of causing
Sophia Pande says: “Cinzia's exquisite jewelry and Mina's hand-dyed shawls are more than just function. These wearable artworks are as valuable as traditional canvases and are powerful reminders of the transformative power of artistic expression. It functions as a thing.”
Writer
Alisha Sijapati is a correspondent for Nepal Times. With over 10 years of experience, she specializes in cultural heritage reporting with social and geopolitical insights. She holds her Master's degree in Cultural Heritage Studies from Central European University. She Alisha has made significant contributions to various newsrooms in Kathmandu. Beyond her work as a journalist, she is deeply involved in the debate on the theft of Nepal's stolen heritage.
