How Arhant Shrestha used photography to get closer to Kathmandu—and himself
Summary
Arhant Shrestha uses photography to process trauma, confront fear, and explore masculinity through two personal bodies of work centered on Kathmandu. His images move between memory and intimacy as he tries to understand the city, other men, and himself.
Key Points
- Arhant Shrestha’s work is rooted in Kathmandu and in his effort to understand the city through photography.
- After a violent attack in late 2023, he began photographing men at night as a way to confront and reduce his fear of them.
- His series explore nostalgia, trauma, masculinity, and the tension between distance and closeness.
- Shrestha says photography helped him heal and gave him a way to navigate emotions more comfortably than words.
