The art exhibition ‘Like a Rising River: Stories of Women and Change’ recently opened in Nepal, showcasing the results of a collaborative project between Srijanalaya, UN Women Nepal, and the Government of Finland. The initiative sent 15 Nepali artists to four provinces—Sudurpaschim, Bagmati, Sarlahi, and Madhesh—to document the lived experiences, social struggles, and resilience of local women through various artistic mediums, including textiles, mixed-media animation, and storytelling.
This project matters because it utilizes contemporary art as a tool for advocacy and social documentation, highlighting the often-invisible labor of women in rural Nepal. By translating personal narratives into visual works like Sofiya Maharjan’s tarpaulin tapestries and Shaili Malla’s animations on the Badi community, the exhibition bridges the gap between grassroots activism and cultural expression, pushing for long-term systemic change in women's rights and recognition.