In the aftermath of the devastating earthquakes that struck Nepal in 2015, and as their own home lies reduced to a pile of bricks, artist couple Ajay and Situ travel across the Lalitpur region, helping residents cope with the shock and devastation.
As their efforts gradually take shape, they turn to what they know best: teaching art. Whether outdoors, in the heart of a devastated Kathmandu, or under makeshift shelters in villages severely affected by the earthquake, they spend several weeks organizing what they call “art therapy.” They encourage children to draw—as a way to process trauma, and to offer a respite from the chaos surrounding them.
With schools closed, electricity cut off, and many children left without a home, there is little to occupy their days. Art therapy provides them with an activity, but also an opportunity to shift their focus, think about lighter things, and escape through imagination. The title of the series comes from a story told to Ajay by a child who depicted the earthquake as a giant monster, wrapping its arms around houses and shaking them with all its might.
