An art exhibition in Gangtok uses creativity to present a different story one of connection, continuity, and shared heritage in an area that is sometimes divided by governmental boundaries but unified by centuries of cultural interaction.
The Namgyal Institute of Tibetology’s ongoing project Riwo: Identity and Continuity has brought together artists from Bhutan, Nepal, and Sikkim to investigate how memory, migration, and history continue to influence life throughout the Himalayan region.
The two-day exhibition, which opened on May 29, goes beyond conventional displays of art. Through paintings, mixed media works and immersive installations, participating artists examine questions of belonging, identity and cultural transformation while drawing inspiration from traditions that have travelled across mountain passes for generations.
Organizers describe the exhibition as an attempt to revive conversations around the historic routes that once linked Himalayan communities through trade, pilgrimage and cultural exchange. The exhibition encourages visitors to see the Himalayas not as a collection of distinct regions but as a living network of interconnected civilizations by emphasizing these common experiences.
Artists participating in the exhibition include Bhutanese collective Yeti Teeth Art comprising Selden W. Dorji, Galek Yangzom and Marcos alongside Nepalese artists Sandesh Gurung and Manoj Rai. Sikkim is represented by Studio Zeyma, Artworkshop, Tsal and Tshering.
Visitors encounter a wide variety of artistic forms, from mineral pigment paintings and leather-based ritual artworks to installations inspired by folklore, spirituality and contemporary urban life. Many of the works reflect on environmental change, migration and the preservation of cultural memory in a rapidly evolving world.
Artists, curators, volunteers, and cultural practitioners from all around the region contributed to the project, which was the result of a partnership between Yeti Teeth Art and Tsal. Sunita was the assistant curator, while Ayushi Nirola was crucial to outreach and communications.
Riwo: Identity and Continuity will continue its tour across the Himalayas after wrapping up in Gangtok. Presentations at Bhutan’s Royal Textile Museum and Nepal’s Patan Museum are scheduled, extending a cultural effort that aims to strengthen artistic networks and regional understanding.