27/04/2026
What happens when materials, people and the ecology of a place come into conversation?
The Bio Design Lab in Sikkim brought together artists, mentors, mediators and collaborators for a 10 day hands-on exploration and exchange in material knowledge systems.
Guided by the experience of Sonam Tashi Gyaltsen and Sarmīte Poļakova, the lab gave shape to innovative explorations by the artists, merging the expertise of a wider network of designers through the extended connections of and .networks
Through the interdisciplinary approach extended across the program, with mediators and the documentation team contributing their own artistic perspectives to the process, the lab reflects an ongoing vision to build networks that support co-creation and sustainable artistic practices made possible here with the support of Goethe-Institut Kolkata.
Follow to learn more about the Bio Design Lab, hear the artist's reflections through conversations, shared learning and time spent together within and beyond the studio.
Music Credit: Sofiyum, track titled 'Kung Kung Go
Video: Shiv Ahuja and Kunga Tashi Lepcha
___
The Bio Design Lab is a project initiated by Goethe-Institut South Asia, presented by Goethe-Institut Kolkata along with Strengthening Networks Amongst Artists in Northeast (SNANE) .networks as project mediators, .sikkim from Gangtok, Sikkim as project partner, Sonam Tashi Gyaltsen as project mentor and Sarmīte Poļakova as the participating international expert working with three artists, Pema Chomu Bhutia, Chingrimi Shimray, and Lalrinngheti Sangsiama.
