The Haunted Natural History Museum

Hakemuksen tiivistelmä

I will undertake a residency at the Natural History Museum of Nepal (NHM), Tribhuvan University in Kathmandu for three months. Located at the foot of the world heritage sacred site, Swayambunnath, the Natural History Museum houses invaluable collections that document the earth's biodiversity and geological history, with many specimens remain inaccessible to the public due to physical constraints and preservation needs. Within the context of climatic change, the precarity of the Himalayan region is apparent, and the museums mission all the more urgent. I will work with the collections, researchers, and staff towards realising lens-based works, that explore this remarkable museum, its practices, history, I will work with sculptural and performance interventions, congruent with the museum and its operations, working with local artisans to fabrication of sculpture components. In dialogue with the museums staff and mission, the project will explore the museum as site of artistic enquiry and display, as well as scientific, observing cultural appropriateness within the extraordinary milieu of the living heritage that is the Kathmandu Valley. The project will also consider the possibility of a larger and more extensive collaboration of working with its impressive collection using contemporary digitizing practices, and consider what expertise, knowledge and skills set will further elaborate a collaborative art and science project. There will be pre and post production stages in Helsinki.