Biennale of Sydney

ArTree Nepal

Formed 2013 in Kathmandu, Nepal
Live and work in Kathmandu, Nepal

ArTree Nepal practices contemporary art with the belief that art has deep roots in social practice. The mainstream narrative of Nepal and its surrounding region have excluded the stories and experiences of numerous marginalised, underprivileged and Indigenous communities. Although there have been, and continue to be, major political changes and demands for an equal representation of diverse identities, cultures, languages and religions, these have been consistently and strategically oppressed. By consciously using political and pre-colonial vocabularies, ArTree's collective and individual practices draw attention to these problematic social hierarchies and invasive international influences.

Not less expensive than gold approaches multiple concerns that are urgent for this collective. Their actions and objects express the frustration of erasure and disintegration of Indigenous, ethnic, communal and shamanistic medicinal and healing practices in Nepal. These natural processes continue to be both denigrated as ‘alternative medicine’ or ‘pseudoscience’, while also commercially exploited as exports. The work also presents video works documenting performative and peaceful actions of resistance towards the commercialised medical industry. These video’s document solidarity with Dr. Govinda KC, a surgeon and activist who has undertaken hunger strikes in order for a better health system and non-privatised medical education in Nepal. The bodies of performers bare the words of his manifesto.

Commissioned by the Biennale of Sydney with generous support from Open Society Foundations. Courtesy the artists.

Join Museum of Contemporary Art Youth Committee member Amy as she introduces you to Auslan and guides you through the creation of your own piece of visual storytelling, inspired by Biennale artist Erkan Özgen’s video work, Wonderland (2016).

In the creation of his work, Özgen intended to champion discomforting and often ignored forms of storytelling by introducing us to Muhammed, a young deaf boy in Syria. Özgen explains that through visual storytelling, we are able to visualise unimaginable experiences and connect beyond the boundaries of spoken language.

“In this workshop, I encourage you to draw from your own emotional experiences during the COVID-19 pandemic to create your own visual story using your body. I hope that through this act, you learn to create not only a physical connection between your body and your mind, but also an emotional connection with other participants.” - Amy

This week’s recipe comes from our friends at Two Good.

Two Good began 10 years ago as an ad-hoc Kings Cross cook-out for the area’s less fortunate. They are committed to serving clean food that’s grown, sourced and prepared with respect. For every meal purchased as part of their ‘Eat one, treat one’ program, Two Good gives an identical one to a local women’s refuge for domestic violence survivors.

Chefs talk all the time about cooking with love. The Two Good team is inspired by that and want to remind those who need it most that everybody deserves to feel worthy of that love.

These delicious muffins are low in fat, packed with high antioxidant berries and are full of fibre. Some chocolate chips make them just a little bit naughty and a sure fire hit with the kids.

Makes 16