It's crowded on Mount Everest these days

By Varsha Nair

2001-08-29 | Preservation of trash past for future.

This is an image of a work titled it is crowded on Mount Everest these days made in 1997, for the plastic (and other waste) project which took place in Bangkok. The work comprises of a text I wrote cut into a thick sheet of yellow plexiglass which is hung in front of a wall mounted detailed map that mountaineers use to climb Mount Everest. The plexi sheet can be rocked back and forth and is lit strongly, making the text filter through and cast over the map.

I am, amongst other things, talking about this presumably pristine environment where the preservation of trash past for future generations, presents a slowly ticking time bomb.

The situation in many ways nurtures a self driven and sinister laboratory where all kinds of bacteria and non biodegradable substances are being processed to probably confront us one day with the results of this bizarre alchemy.

Talking about laboratories, what about genetic engineering and cloning? What is being created and preserved to be handed to future generations? As we are unable to regulate the ultimate outcome of our interference in nature, will the experiments of today only add to the trash-heap of tomorrow?