White Space / People have the Power
2011


The first Public Art Festival in Gangtok Sikkim
with Chalet5:

"White Space / People have the Power"

A dayly performance by Chalet5 2011, 4 -7 pm
from Paljor Stadium up to M.G. Marg and back down again

4 Days
21.-24. March 2011, Gangtok Sikkim

4 Objects
120 x 180 cm, plywood 6 mm cutouts
done by Navin Kumar Sharma Carpenter, Tibet Road, Gangtok, Sikkim
white primer paint
2 layers only, done by Chalet5

4 Kulis
Sri Bahadur Chettri
Arjun Prasad Shivakoti
Ram Bahadur Shivakoti
Chandra Bahadur Shivakoti

White Space

The white space of western art galleries - our natural habitat as artists.
We are fully aware of the artificial nature of these spaces - but we also very much appreciate their capability of providing room for reflection and concentration.

There are no art galleries in Sikkim.

Reflecting on the multilayered complexity of Sikkim's social, political and geographical issues we come up with the concept of creating shifting, mobile and moving white spaces within the public space of Gangtok.
Distribution into Gangtoks steep and narrow alleys is highly dependant on human carriers. Without these Kulis, without the Himalaya's Sherpas there would not have been any success in climbing the highest mountains on earth.
We understand art practices as ways of research, of distributing knowledge and information, of exploring white spots on the worlds map or shall we pretend: of recreating white spots on the worlds map.
Kulis in the Himalaya have their very own ways and culture of carrying, by using ropes and headbands they carry heaviest loads on their backs. You cannot carry loads on top of your head in steep landscapes, you loose your balance.

Four white pictorial objects of misterious abstract symbolism - shifting between object and image - are being carried through the streets of Gangtok, building a parade, a performance of human power and energy.
By carrying artworks through public grounds we intend to confront the people of Gangtok with questions of ambuiguity, of possible meanings and secrets of art, beyond the bare necessities of everyday life, and most of all:

we are providing islands and moments of empty space and time, for dreams waiting to be realised, for the thoughts to roam freely.

People have the Power

go for the Making Of / Behind the Scene


Many Thanks for making it all possible, for your help and support:
Sayantan, Kara, Mingyur, Siddharta,
and Tshering Lepcha from Star Bar n Restaurant for his insights in Sikkim culture and for his hospitality

Bloomingsikkim
The first Public Art Festival in Gangtok, Sikkim, March 21 - 31 2011
Artistic Director and Curator: Sayantan Maitra


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