Kishor Sharma comes up with 'Living in the Mist'

 Kathmandu, Oct. 18

Kishor Shrama has come up with his photo book 'Living in the Mist' that features and documents the life, culture and costumes of Raute community in western Nepal.

Sharma who is a documentary photographer, filmmaker, and writer, has produced this book with a decade-long effort and multiple trips to the hills of western Nepal following the nomadic Raute people.

Over the years of working, his own outlook on the Raute has changed from simply documenting them to wanting to create more dialogue about the community.

“This photo book has witnessed and experienced the ups and downs of my journey as a photographer. Here, I have attempted to record the lives of its protagonists, the Rautes, and their struggles. I am overwhelmed today with emotions to see my 12-year-long effort become a reality,” said Sharma.

The Rautes are considered to be the last nomadic people of Nepal. They do not own land and have refused to accept citizenship documents offered by the state. 'Living in the Mist' offers a glimpse into their lives and their resistance towards being governed by a ‘modern' world. It compels us to imagine the possibility of alternative and autonomous ways of living.

"Sharma's photography and films composedly defend the nuanced simplicity of people, life, and their landscape. Sharma has extensive experience in documenting stories through photos and films, working with diverse communities throughout Asia," said Nayan Tara Gurung Kakshapati, Director of photo.circle, publisher of the book.

She said that this new publication is part of photo.circle’s efforts to create a publishing platform for Nepali photographers. “With space in mainstream print media shrinking, it is not easy for Nepali photographers to get their work published. We have been trying to support Nepali photographers to publish their work and we hope these books and important stories like the one Kishor is telling us, have the long shelf lives that they deserve,” said Kakshapati.

The book has been designed by Kerala based Italian book designer Valentina Abenevoli and all texts have been translated by Prawin Adhikari.

“Sharma is a self-aware outsider-observer who constantly reflects on his learnings and un-learnings, during the course of his meetings with the Raute,” writes Sohrab Hura, an established photographer and filmmaker, and a member of Magnum Photos.

Meanwhile, an exhibition of Sharma's photos is being exhibited at Patan House, Dhaugal in Lalitpur which will last until November 30, except Mondays and Dashain and Tihar. 

 Published in The Rising Nepal on 19 October 2023.