Spotlight with Roshan Mishra
Roshan Mishra, Director/Curator at Taragaon Museum, Kathmandu, Nepal
Could you tell us a little more about your background and how you got into curating?
During my school and college years, I dedicated my time in my father's studio, engaging in either drawing or painting. My father, a renowned artist in Nepal, served as a significant source of inspiration, therefore passion for art seems to flow within me naturally. This influence guided me to enroll in an art school, where I underwent training as an artist. The realization that I would eventually oversee my father's collection motivated me, nurturing my long-held vision of establishing a museum.
A decade ago, my life took a transformative turn when I became part of the Taragaon Museum. This experience not only altered my life but also reshaped my career aspirations. While I was managing the museum and its archives, my background in contemporary art enabled me to introduce a gallery within the museum's premises. This marked a vital moment that shifted my entire perspective on art appreciation, promoting art and preservation. It was during this time that my interest in curating truly blossomed.
Who/what has influenced your curatorial practice?
Curatorial practice is a complex domain that can be influenced and molded by a range of factors. Among these, my personal involvement in artistic undertakings stands out. I believe that my interest in art influenced me to pursue curatorial practice as the next step in my career. While I am influenced and inspired by many curators; my curatorial thought process and practice are even more influenced by incredible Nepali artists and the dynamic contemporary art scene that is blossoming inside the Nepali creative artistic sphere.
The role of the curator is continuously changing. Could you describe what it means to be a curator today?
Being a curator today involves a multidimensional role that goes beyond traditional responsibilities. Curators are still responsible for managing collections, organizing exhibitions, and preserving cultural artifacts, but their role has now evolved to encompass a much broader scope of activities.
In today's dynamic cultural landscape, being a curator today involves embracing the dynamic intersection of art, culture, and technology, while shouldering the responsibility of shaping meaningful narratives within an ever-evolving global context. It involves not only the curation of artworks but also the curation of diverse perspectives and voices, fostering inclusivity and engagement. A curator today must navigate the digital realm, engaging with audiences beyond physical spaces, and adapting to changing paradigms of art curating and interpretation. It means being a mediator between artists, their artworks, and the public, striving to provoke thought, spark conversations, and contribute to the ongoing dialogue of our multifaceted world.
Modern curators play an essential role in the ongoing efforts to decolonize art by actively challenging and reshaping the historical narratives, power dynamics, and representations that have been rooted in the art world. Through thoughtful curation, they can elevate marginalized voices, perspectives, and artistic traditions that have been suppressed or ignored due to historical and colonial biases.
Tell us about the latest exhibition / project that you curated.
The Taragaon Museum has undergone a recent transformation into Taragaon Next. As a part of this revitalization, I worked with a curatorial team to re-curate the museum's collection. The exhibition, titled "Archiving for the Future: An Intersection of Heritage and Architecture," presents an interpretation of the extensive research and documentation conducted in the Kathmandu valley primarily by foreign scholars and individuals who have resided and worked in Nepal after 1950's. The displayed materials and exhibits were thoughtfully selected from the Nepal Architecture Archive, which operates under the Saraf Foundation for Himalayan Tradition and Culture; an organization that supports the Taragaon Museum and its activities.
Besides this, I am co-curating a contemporary Himalayan art exhibition that is due to open in March 2024 in the US. This exhibition aims to showcase and promote artists from Nepal and various other regions of the Himalayas, including those from the diaspora.
What are you reading, watching, or listening to now, that is helping you to stay relaxed and positive?
After nearly five months, I finally embarked on reading a book that had been gifted to me by an artist friend from Australia. The book, authored by Geoffrey Robertson and titled "Who Owns History?” presents a compelling argument about restitution of cultural heritage. Robertson emphasises that not only the Elgin Marbles but also all culturally significant artefacts obtained through looting, theft, or trade should be repatriated and reintegrated into their countries of origin and their culture. The ongoing discourse about restitution seems to be a lasting one, and I am confident that these discussions will exert increasing pressure on museums in Europe and America. This pressure will likely compel them to conduct thorough and meticulous evaluations of their collections. I stay positive that, in due course, museums and collectors will voluntarily return many such objects to their countries of origin.
How long have you been part of IKT and how do you feel that it has benefited your curatorial practice?
Starting from 2020, I've been a member of IKT, an experience that I've found truly enriching. In 2021, I had the privilege of participating in the streaming IKT Live Festival during the virtual congress. Simultaneously, supported by IKT, I organized an exhibition titled "Nepali Art: Beyond the Borders" at Taragaon Museum in Kathmandu.
Being a curator is undeniably exciting, but what adds an extra layer of excitement is the opportunity to connect within the curator's community. This year, I'm incredibly thankful to have been awarded the Harald Szeemann grant, which enables my participation in the annual conference in Wales. I'm eagerly anticipating the chance to meet so many art curators and museum professionals from around the globe.
Thank you Roshan!
Spotlight
Spotlight is a new series of short interviews, aiming to showcase the diverse expertise and innovative approaches of our IKT members. Whether you're seeking inspiration or searching for potential partners, join us on this captivating journey as we uncover the stories, ideas, and creative visions of our members.
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