Nepal’s inaugural pavilion at the 59th Venice Biennale marked a historic moment for Himalayan artistry. Titled Tales of Muted Spirits – Dispersed Threads – Twisted Shangri-La, the pavilion was curated by Sheelasha Rajbhandari and Hit Man Gurung, redefining Nepal’s cultural narrative through a bold fusion of tradition and contemporary critique. Mt Refuge’s collaboration with Tsherin Sherpa anchored the exhibition’s exploration of identity, labor and collective memory.
Collaborative Storytelling
Mt Refuge’s collaboration with Tsherin Sherpa reflects a shared vision to elevate Himalayan artistry. Earlier in 2022, our studio launched the limited-edition Tiger Rug collection with Sherpa, reviving the esoteric tradition of Tibetan tiger rugs through modernist abstraction. At Venice, this partnership underscored the studio’s mission to bridge ancient techniques with contemporary design, offering a counter-narrative to exoticized perceptions of Nepal.
Central to the pavilion was Entangled Thread, an installation featuring a 60-year-old handloom from Phaplu, Nepal, alongside tools and textiles crafted by Mt Refuge’s artisans. This piece served as both a functional object and a metaphor for Nepal’s cultural tapestry—woven from diverse ethnic traditions and histories. By spotlighting the loom, we emphasized the artistry behind Nepali rug-making, challenging the reduction of Himalayan craft to mere “handicrafts” or souvenirs.
Redefining “Shangri-La”
As Tsherin Sherpa has consistently aspired and envisioned, the pavilion directly confronts Western stereotypes of Nepal as either a spiritual utopia or an impoverished nation. Mt Refuge’s textiles, juxtaposed with Sherpa’s fragmented Garuda paintings and bronze sculptures, dismantled clichés by highlighting the sophistication of Nepali art. The tactile textures of their rugs invited viewers to engage physically and intellectually, fostering a dialogue about cultural ownership and decolonization.
Global Recognition, Local Impact and Legacy
Our participation in the Biennale was a milestone for Nepal’s creative economy while showcasing artisanal labor on a global stage. The studio advocated for the preservation of traditional crafts amid rapid modernization. The pavilion’s success—supported by the Rubin Museum of Art and Nepal’s government—signaled a growing international appetite for Himalayan narratives told on their own terms.
Indeed, contemporary and traditional art forms co-exist, reacting to one another. To this effect, Sherpa collaborated with local artists Vijay Maharjan, his team, Mt Refuge, Asha Rai and Sunil Bahadur Moktan, to create, with curators Rajbhandari and Gurung, a striking response to the contradictory conceptualisation of Nepal, challenging the stereotype of it being both an impoverished backwater and a Shangri-La.
– Nepali Times
Though the Biennale concluded in November 2022, Mt Refuge’s work in Venice left an indelible mark. The studio demonstrated how luxury craftsmanship could serve as a vehicle for cultural resilience, inspiring a reevaluation of Nepal’s place in global art discourse. As Tsherin Sherpa noted, the pavilion was “not just about art, but community”—a philosophy we at Mt Refuge continue to embody through every thread.
– Tenzin J. Sherpa
Features:
https://www.labiennale.org/en/art/2022/national-participations/nepal
https://rubinmuseum.org/projects-exhibitions/partnerships-collaborations/nepal-pavilion
https://nepalinvenice.com/
https://rubinmuseum.org/the-rubin-supports-the-inaugural-national-pavilion-of-nepal
https://thehimalayantimes.com/entertainment/nepal-to-debut-at-venice-biennale
https://nepalitimes.com/here-now/nepal-s-pavilion-afloat-in-venice