The Central Zoo in Jawalakhel, a district of Lalitpur, is not only the only zoo in Nepal but also a place where history, urban development, and contemporary art intersect in a striking way. It was originally established in 1932 by the Rana prime minister Juddha Shumsher Jung Bahadur Rana as a private menagerie within an elite garden complex. After the end of the Rana regime, the zoo was nationalized and gradually opened to the public in the 1950s. Today, the roughly six-hectare site houses over a hundred animal species and has evolved from a symbol of aristocratic prestige into a center for conservation, education, and wildlife rehabilitation, now managed by the NATIONAL TRUST FOR NATURE CONSERVATION.
What is particularly exciting, is the urban space surrounding the zoo: the long perimeter wall along the streets of Jawalakhel has evolved in recent years into an open-air urban art gallery featuring murals, graffiti, and socially critical image series. The SATTYA MEDIA ARTS COLLECTIVE plays a major role in this; active since 2011, this network of artists, filmmakers, and activists is dedicated to promoting media art, collaborative projects, and public discourse. The collective regularly organizes workshops, screenings, and participatory art events, including formats such as environmental or graffiti jams that specifically incorporate public space, thereby transforming places like the area around the zoo into creative experimental spaces.
This fusion of zoo and streetart is not a formal, curated museum concept but rather something that has developed organically. The wall acts as a threshold between the controlled interior of the zoo and the vibrant, artistically rich city outside, which is a city long known for its craftsmanship and visual culture. In this sense, the site echoes the broader history of Lalitpur, from its artistic flourishing during the Malla period to its present-day experimental urban art scene. Time by time new projects with special issues by different artists gets created, also writers leave their piecs and tags there. A visit to the zoo thus becomes more than an encounter with wildlife; it also offers a walk through a living, constantly evolving gallery embedded in the public realm.
„Love is Love“ – Inclusive Forum Nepal – PAKV
Artist: PAKV
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/_pakv
LGBTIQ+ NGO: INCLUSIVE FORUM NEPAL
Website: https://www.ifn.org.np
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/InclusiveForumNepal
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/inclusiveforumnepal
Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@inclusiveforumofficial
Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/user/inclsuiveforumnepal
„We are under mass hypnosis“
SAIKUSH
Artist: SAIKUSH
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/saikush.psd
Crew: PSD – POSSESED – PUBLIC SPACE DIVISION
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/psd_patan
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/psd.np
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/psd.ap
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/psdfilms.np
KAZ
Artist: KAZ – KAZ ONE
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/erratic.chimp
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/g.enozak
Peg the Patriarchy
SNEKZY
SEAMAN
Artist: SEAMAN – SEA – SEA ONE
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sagar_namaes
„Love is Love“ – SATTYA WORKSHOP – VICTOR, KABISH, LUUN & participants – May 2018
„The workshop was an experimental introduction to all the process of mural art and the goal of the workshop was to break with the comfort zone of artists who have skills but they never got involved in mural art. Letting them realize they have a lots of thing to say in these field with the proper tools and effort. With the collective efforts of the participants and our very awesome instructor, VICTOR, we have added yet another vibrant piece onto the walls of the Central Zoo.“ – SATTYA MEDIA ARTS COLLECTIVE
Artist: KABISH
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kabis.n
CARTUNE NETWORK
„Imagine“ – SATTYA WORKSHOP – SANA NASIR & local community – July 2016
Artist: SANA NASIR
Website: https://www.sananasir.co
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/sana.nasir.5811
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/koi_nahi
„As you think, so shall you become“ – Bruce Lee
SADIKSHA MAHATARA – GYANDU
Artist: SADIKSHA MAHATARA – GYANDU – SADHIXA
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sadhixa
BAKI VOLI
„Slay – Motion in Music“ – SATTYA WORKSHOP – NIKLAS SCHWEDE & local community – August 2017
Artist: NIKLAS SCHWEDE – ERWIN EDEL
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/erwin.edel
Tik Tok: https://www.tiktok.com/@erwin.edel
SATTYA WORKSHOP – 2nd June 2015
RATIO
WPAP NEPAL – MAD-ON & SANO – September 2018
Artist: MAD-ON – MADON BARAL
Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@madonbaral1469
Artist: SANO
Collective: WPAP NEPAL
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/wpapnepal
IONE
„Go Green, save the Earth, plant a Tree“ – 22nd April Earth Day – One World, One Earth
„Every Day is Earth Day“ – Green Sail
„Empowerment for girls and women in Nepal“ – PUTALI NEPAL – SATTYA PROJECT
Empowerment for girls and women in Nepal: PUTALI NEPAL
Website: https://putali-nepal.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/putalinepal
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/putalinepal
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/putali-nepal
„Our Love remains forever“ – Love Locks Wall
HERAKUT
Artist: HERA – JASMIN SIDDIQUI
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100068840371844
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hera_herakut
Former Artist Duo: HERA & AKUT = HERAKUT
Website: http://www.herakut.de
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/HERAKUT
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/herakut
Tumblr: https://herakut-blog.tumblr.com
RATIO & others
„We are equal – Eat, spray, love“ – SATTYA PROJECT
ARCADIAN, SHARON IZUMA & YUBIN RAI
Artist: ARCADIAN
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/arcadian.cl
Etsy: https://www.etsy.com/shop/arcadiancl
Artist: SHARON IZUMA
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/izuma._.r
Artist: YUBIN RAI
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/yubin._.rai
Origami Birds
„Life and its Ending at one Minute“
„Sick of Bandhs“
„May I live simply, so that others may simply live“ – Mahatma Gandhi
DAUB
LAMA
PAKOU
MINK
DAAS
Artist: DAAS
Website: https://www.artist-daas.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/artist.daas
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/daas
„Dignity Without Danger“ – KAALO Project – VAI & VARSHA JHA – May 2022
Artist: VAI
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/katzeee_78
Artist: VARSHA JHA
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/varshu.j
Menstruation Project: DIGNITY WITHOUT DANGER – DWD
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dignitywithoutdanger
Curator & Collective: KAALO – KAALO 101
Website: https://kaalo101.org
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kaalo.101
Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@Kaalo.101
Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/101kaalo101
LinkTree: https://linktr.ee/Kaalo.101
GREK
GRIFFIN
Artist: GRIFFIN
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/_griffin777
„Silence! But is it worth it?“
SHADES
Collective: SHADES
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/shades.do.murals
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/shades045
Tik Tok: https://www.tiktok.com/@shades.official6
Bruce Lee
STINKFISH
Artist: STINKFISH
Website: https://stinkfish.wixsite.com/officialwebsite
Website: https://stinkfish.wordpress.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/stinkfishstink
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/stinkfishstink
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/serial_prints
Flickr: https://www.flickr.com/photos/stinkfishate
Vimeo: https://vimeo.com/user4365752
LinkTree: https://linktr.ee/stinkfishstink
MERS
TOXI – LMIH
Crew: PSD – LMIH – LET’S MAKE IT HAPPEN
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/psd_patan
SNK & others
Sheep Stencil
CROEPIN
„Swatantrata“ – PAKV – November 2020
Artist: PAKV
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/_pakv
„Stop stealing other’s dream – End the Trafficking – Break the Chain“
DURGA GURUNG – January 2021
Artist: DURGA GURUNG – DURGA THE TRAVELLING ARTIST
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/people/Durga-the-traveling-artist/100077604643580
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/durga_the_travelling_artist
Tik Tok: https://www.tiktok.com/@durga_the_travelling_art
„Justice during Covid“
Yoda Stencils – Star Wars Tribute
PAKV – August 2020
Artist: PAKV
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/_pakv
Youth Empowering Youth – Graffiti by KAZ
Social Organization: YOUTH EMPOWERING YOUTH – YEY
Website: https://www.youthempoweringyouth.org
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/people/Youth-Empowering-Youth/100069745213939
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/youthempoweringyouth.official
Artist: KAZ – KAZ ONE
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/szechuan0
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/g.enozak
SWK
„She deserves Dignity and Respect“
„Inspired by IMU collage“ – PAKV
Artist: IMU
Artist: PAKV
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/_pakv
„We stand united“
„The Constitution of Nepal 2015 – Right to Justice?“
„Be kind to your mind“
Mother Earth is burning
„Let equality bloom“
„Dalit Lives matter“
Organization: DALIT LIVES MATTER
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dalitlives
INFOTHEK
Project Organizer: SATTYA MEDIA ARTS COLLECTIVE
Website: https://www.sattya.org
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/sattyamedia
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sattyacollective
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sattyashop
Spotted: https://spottedbysattya.substack.com
Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@SattyaCollective
LinkTree: https://linktr.ee/sattyacollective
Zoo Management: NATIONAL TRUST FOR NATURE CONVERSATION
Website: https://www.ntnc.org.np
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/NTNCNepal
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/ntncnepal
MORE ARTICLES ABOUT NEPAL
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>>> Painted Shop Shutter Collection <<<
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>>> Suresh Gandhari – Sarangi <<<