Ladhamba Tayem; Future Continuous ᤗᤠᤎᤠᤶᤒᤠ ᤋᤠᤕᤧᤶ, 2023
Single channel video: 14:56, colour, sound, 16:9
Commissioned by VH Award of Hyundai Motor Group
Ladhamba Tayem; Future Continuous ᤗᤠᤎᤠᤶᤒᤠ ᤋᤠᤕᤧᤶ borrows its name from the verbal inflection that specifies an action or state is happening at a particular time in the future; ‘tayem’ being future and ‘ladhamba’ being continuous in Indigenous Yakthung (Limbu) language. The work imagines a conversation between the historical figure Kangsore, an 18th century Yakthung warrior fighting the Gorkha colonial army, and Yakthung time-traveller from a distant future.
Based on Limbu’s critical framework of Adivasi Futurism, the work connects these two people from the same community but from very different timelines — one a reminder of the fight against colonialism, and the other, from a future we might want to strive for. Converging the two timelines, the work situates the viewer in between past and future, asking them to consider their own role within this space-time continuum.
featuring
Bimala Khajum Limbu as Mikki, the time traveller
Aashish Aveng Limbu as Kangsore
Ashali Wanem Limbu as Kangsore’s mother
Drones and camera- Manish Maharjan
Director of Photography- Shanta Nepali
VFX- Zoubein Rana @Electric FX
Line producer- Srijana Tabebung Limbu
Theme song composition/vocals- Jhuma Limbu
Theme song lyrics- Swapnil Smriti
Sound mix- Bishwo Shahi
Yakthung translations/consultant- Amar Tumyahang
Assistant consultant- Mekh Limbu
Additional drones/ production assistant- Rashik Maharjan, Haribhakta Dangol
Backing vocals- Trishna Nembang, Rojina Thegim, Dipa Suhang, Bibas Nembang, Laxman Limbu, Amrit Kumar Bhatta
Flute- Rubin Kumar Shrestha
Recordist- Amrit Kumar Bhatta
Local coordinator- Uttar Kumar Limbu
Transport/ production assistant- Binod Tamang
spacesuit design- Arati Subba
Spacesuit production- Sanu Babu Nepali
Thanks
Shubha Giri, Valentine Umansky, Kamala Tigela, Makar Dhoj Wanem, Buki Sherpa, Subin Limbu, Avishek Subba, Tundra Drone, Andej Adhikari, Bijaybar Pradhan, Mark Turin, Eyebeam Democracy Machine, Yakthung Laje, Limbuwan Movement
My Family
and
Kangsore and all ancestors known unknown who fought for our homeland.