AKA Art Productions
04Nepal · 2019–2021

Kathmandu, 2019: we start filming.

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Lokta paper is made in the Himalayan foothills from the inner bark of the lokta bush. In 2019 we brought artists to Kathmandu and began filming their projects: Aya Takano in Tibetan hand-knotting, Jessica Stockholder in lokta paper. Jessica Stockholder made her own sheets and worked into them — tearing, layering, adding colour — learning the paper as she went. Vargas-Suárez Universal joined us for a work on paper. Aya Takano’s drawing went onto the loom, knot by knot, with our weavers.

Stockholder’s works were later shown by her galleries; Takano’s series was shown in Paris, Tokyo and Hong Kong. In 2021, hand-knotted tapestries we produced in Kathmandu for Carlos Amorales and Dr. Lakra were shown by kurimanzutto in East Hampton.

Jessica Stockholder · lokta paper

Jessica Stockholder holding a sheet beside the papermaker at the vat, a boom microphone above
At the vat with the papermaker, on camera.
Jessica Stockholder placing coloured pulp and fibre onto a wet sheet in its mould
Laying colour into the wet sheet.
Jessica Stockholder in red gloves pouring red pulp from a bucket onto a tilted mould
Pouring red pulp onto the mould.
Jessica Stockholder in red gloves working coloured pulp and cord into paper on a frame
Cord and pulp worked into the sheet.
Black cable pressed into dark grey pulp on a mould
Cable pressed into the pulp.
Moulds of red, black and purple paper with cords embedded, drying on the grass
The sheets drying on the hillside.
Dozens of finished lokta sheets in red, blue, black and yellow laid out to dry on a concrete floor
The finished sheets, laid out to dry, Kathmandu, 2019.

Vargas-Suárez Universal · Aya Takano

Vargas-Suárez Universal brushing medium onto a dark sheet of paper on a rooftop table
Vargas-Suárez Universal working on paper, Kathmandu, 2019.
Vargas-Suárez Universal working over a long sheet of paper on a rooftop table, filmed by two cameras
Vargas-Suárez Universal, filmed on the rooftop.
Aya Takano standing on a rooftop by her snow-leopard drawing, with dyed wool and colour boxes around her
Aya Takano with her drawing among the dyed wool.
Aya Takano and the workshop master choosing wool colours over her drawing
Choosing the wool colours, knot by knot.
Aya Takano and Vargas-Suárez Universal interviewed at a table in a brick courtyard, a boom microphone above
Aya Takano and Vargas-Suárez Universal, interviewed for the film.
The cinematographer showing footage on his camera to Aya Takano at Swayambhunath
Filming at Swayambhunath, 2019.
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