In Nepal, a maxi installation on village rooftops to pay tribute to the role of local women

Aninstallation that stretches over the rooftops of a village in Nepal, more than 170 meters in length, and is related to the theme ofwomen’s empowerment: it is Like Her by Franco-Tunisian artist eL Seed, which he made with twelve Nepalese women. In fact, the work stretches over most of the roofs of the village of Giranchur, Nepal, using more than kilometer of fabric reminiscent of traditional Nepalese costumes. Twelve women from the village collaborated on the maxi installation, also taking into account that the women of Giranchur themselves tenaciously rebuilt safe shelters after the destruction caused by the violent earthquake that struck Nepal in 2015. The work by eL Seed is thus meant to be a kind of recognition, a tribute, to make humanity reflect on the fundamental role women played in that dramatic moment.

The installation depicts the words of Yogmaya Neupane (1867-1941), one of Nepal’s first women activists; a woman who has become a modern icon in the contemporary struggle for gender equality and social justice.

Characteristic of the Franco-Tunisian artist is her use of Arabic calligraphy in her works, viewing it as a powerful means of building connections between individuals. Again, eL Seed depicted this type of writing with which he wrote Yogmaya Neupane’s phrase, “There is nothing between us, nothing at all. Your eyes have tears, just like my own” (There is nothing between us, nothing at all. Your eyes have tears, just like mine). The sentence is seen from a bird’s eye perspective and will gradually fade away as time goes on.

Each of the twelve women who contributed to the installation was paid for her work, and its realization was taken in consultation with the local community. Bamboo structures were used for the installation and will remain with the village for use in construction.

Image: eL Seed, Like Her (2021) Courtesy of the artist.

In Nepal, a maxi installation on village rooftops to pay tribute to the role of local women

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