Landscapes of Stories: A Celebration of Art and Environmental Narratives

On November 24, 2024, a remarkable community engagement event was organised by zed.tells bringing together art, cinema, and critical environmental discussions. Supported by the local administration, the event showcased an evocative exhibition titled Landscapes of Stories, and film screenings partnering with Alt eff, offering a deep and dialogical exploration of the environmental issues in the region. The event attracted an audience of more than 300 viewers, including enthusiastic students, youth, representatives from the Panchayati system, and environmental advocates.

An Exhibition of Diverse Artistic Expressions

The art exhibit presented an inspiring collection of works by 15 talented artists. Visitors marveled at stunning paintings, intricate printmaking pieces, Thangka art, dynamic sculptures, captivating wildlife photography, and meticulously preserved herbarium specimens. These creative interpretations highlighted the beauty and fragility of the western Himalayas, its people and ecosystem

Open Discussion Forums

One of the highlights was the open discussion forums, where the conversation highlighted:

• The impact of a changing climate on the Western Himalaya with a focus on Kinnaur

• The growing garbage problem and potential solutions

• Forest fires and strategies for prevention

• Biodiversity conservation efforts

These discussions were enriched by environmentalists sharing their experiences, students offering curious reflections, and community elders providing thoughtful insights. They highlighted common challenges and passed down time-tested wisdom, showing how each generation has adapted to and upheld sustainable practices, ensuring a lasting connection between people and nature.

Additionally, participants had the opportunity to engage directly with a filmmaker and explore the creative process behind their film.

Interactive Stalls, Live performances and sustainable approaches 

Forest department, Local NGOs and community collectives set up interactive stalls that displayed their initiatives and ongoing projects providing visitors with insights into grassroots environmental efforts and fostered networking among changemakers. Young musicians and poets added to the vibrancy of the event with live performances.

The event prioritized sustainability by using 100 percent biodegradable cutlery made from pattals and recycled paper, demonstrating a commitment to eco-friendly practices.

Engaging Activities

To further promote awareness and participation, an online quiz competition on local biodiversity and Kinnaur’s cultural heritage captured the interest of attendees and saw a participation of 70 people. 

Here are some of the testimonials from our audience: 

This was a great initiative and It felt really great to witness the participation of youth from our region. There were so many people who came and shared their thoughts and created such an amazing Space. 

• Amita Chhorgia (Youtuber ‘The tribal girl’) 

Film is an excellent medium to gather people, but what stood out today was the rich interaction between grassroots workers, artists, cultural advocates, and environmental enthusiasts. The conversations were insightful—from students sharing their thoughts  to seasoned experts working on forest rights for decades. Creating more space for such interactions, perhaps through workshops spanning two or three days, could foster even deeper connections. I’m grateful to Zed.tells and the whole community for this incredible experience.

• Nav Prakash ( Tourism Association Kinnaur)

"I had the privilege of attending their previous event, and this event was truly fire! I was glad to represent Healing Himalayas and discuss the critical issue of waste management in the mountains. The interactions and discussions were inspiring, and I look forward to participating again in the future."

• Rahul Suman (Associated with Healing Himalaya)

Me and my friends are from Industrial Training Institute, Reckong Peo. I am happy that I won first prize in the trivia. Overall it was a good experience where I learnt a lot. 

• Jabi Ram (Student from ITI, Reckong Peo)

https://www.tribuneindia.com/news/himachal/earth-takes-centre-stage-at-kinnaur-film-festival/