Curatorial Note
Vertical Wave is a 108-meter-Long Tapestry for which 1500 used clothes collected from the citizens of Busan are stitched together with threads and needles. Main material of the piece “old clothes” are the metaphoric object that holds people’s personal history, emotional milieu, aura, beauty and they are the symbol for the chronological history of development of human societies. Connecting the used clothes means to connect mankind for Shrestha. Through Vertical Wave ha offers an opportunity for the audience to connect scattered stories of the individuals pass their emotional values and share histories breaking national barriers in the long run. Also, he pays attention to the site-specificity of the border where the beach and the large park meet. Starting from a tree in the park, his tapestry grows to wrap around surrounding trees to make arch shape and continue to grow toward the sea, Shrestha’ Act of generating interaction between man and the nature reminds us of what kind of viewpoint we must have on the matter of ecology of contemporary society.
Artist Statement
The site-specific community art project entitled “Vertical Wave” brings people of different cultures, ethnics and community together. To create the massive installation, I am using clothes that depicts second skin to life and that provides a value of security, beauty and comfort. As we know clothes become the status symbol and chronological progress of human civilization. To create the work, 1500 old clothes are stitched together to create a large tapestry of 108 meters. Metaphorical aspect of used clothes has beautiful connection with personal history, memories and their emotional milieu. 108 meters length signifies the spiritual and cosmic connection to aware mankind as a natural being.
Accumulating clothes from many communities has the collaborative affirmation of sharing love and affection. It has the meaning of regeneration and bringing essence back to life again towards the humble society. Recycling these norms has deep connotation of connecting individual stories and sharing their emotional values.
Stitching clothes together with the help of many people of the neighborhoods depicts the meaning of connecting borders, sharing histories and recollecting stories. It is freedom of being unified. Process of sewing with thin white thread has affirmative gesture. Human life is also connected with thin layer of mutual respect, love, laughter and positivity. This work is in a process and ended up in the process. Entire process of interactivity itself is an art for me; it is joy of living, celebrating the existence and meditation in itself.
Amalgamation of different color clothes into one united tapestry is created in a form of human wave as a powerful epitome of dignity, self-respect and reinforcing the sense of belongingness. The installation embraces the trees and the ocean as a gesture of love and respect towards the nature.
This work determines the reality of human race as responsible being to protect the nature and finding the roots within themselves.This installation is created in the form of ocean wave in vertical dimension. As me being a man from Himalayas, my journey is always to connect different souls from the height to the sea. This work represents collective energy of union and human as a vertical being with multi-dimensional dynamism.
The large tapestry of 108 meters length with 2 meters height is created for Sea Art Festival 2019 Busan Biennale which is exhibiting in Dadaepo Beach, Busan from 28th September to 27th October 2019. The festival is organized by Busan Biennale Organizing Committee and the theme of the festival is “Sea of Heartbreak”. The Artistic Director for the festival is Seo Sang-ho from South Korea.
Including myself there are list of the Artists from different Countries Busan Biennale Sea Art Festival 2019. Alfredo & Isabel Aquilizan (the Philippines), Art Together (Hong Kong), Bounpaul Phothyzan (Laos), Choi Suhwan (South Korea), Enkhbold Togmidshirev (Mongolia), Hsiao-Chi Tsai & Kimiya Yoshikawa (Taiwan/Japan), Imhyeop (GIM Moongi, Yun Sungji, Yoon Heesoo, South Korea), James Tapscott (Australia), Kabul & Mintio (Indonesia/Singapore), Kim Bokyung (South Korea), Lee Changjin (South Korea), Lee Seungsoo (South Korea), Lee Kwangkee (South Korea), Manish Lal Shreshtha (Nepal), Roe Dongsik (South Korea), Song Sungjin (South Korea), Sung Baeg (South Korea), Taitung Dawn Artist Village & Toko Studio (Taiwan), Tentacles (Thailand), The wild rabbit plays the tambourine in the art center (Park Sangho, Lee eunyeoung, and Jung yoonzoo, South Korea)
Donors of the used clothes:
Nam Dareuda, Kim Yunmi, Yeom Siyun, Jung Inseo, Byeon Yunjeong, Lee Gyeong Jae, Oh Deokjun, Kwon Heeseol, Lim Miok, Kim Jiyeon, Ban Yeongnan, Cho Seoyeon, Jung Dong Hoon, Lee Daun, Seo Yoon Mi, Beautiful Store.
Working team Kim Mikyung, Kim Hyosun, Shin Youngae, Jeon Minsook, Choi Kyungok, Park Hyunja, Kim Misun, Yoo Youngsook, Dong Kyu Kim, Hyejin Jun, Oh Jihun, Cho Chaeyoung, Lee Junpyo.
Further Links
http://www.busanbiennale.org/
http://www.busanbiennale.org/wave/?MM=01&SM=01
manish lal shrestha 