Interview Directory 

ART

Name: Benjamin Von Wong

Occupation: Artist

“I don't have a special responsibility as an artist. I have a responsibility as a human being.“

Where do you see your role and responsibility as an artist?

Benjamin Von Wong: I don't have a special responsibility as an artist. I have a responsibility as a regular human being. I try to hopefully leave the world a better place than I found it. Because I happen to be an artist, the medium I use to make a difference is art. I think everyone has the opportunity to use whatever superpowers they have to make a difference! I had the privilege of growing up with loving parents, choosing a career path, and having the opportunity to develop my skills. Now I try to use my privilege to make things better.

‘The stars aligned as if by magic.’

You had been planning your project on Mount Everest for some time?

At the end of 2016, I launched a project in which a mermaid was depicted on 10,000 plastic bottles and it quickly went viral. Because of this project, the founders of Sagarmatha Next approached me in 2017 and asked if I could work with them. It didn't materialize for various reasons, but I never forgot that conversation. A couple of years later, my friends at Kiehl's reached out to me, asking if I knew of any non-profits in the Everest region that were fighting single-use plastics. They became the perfect partner to not only fund Sagamartha Next's Carry Me Back program, but to fund an art installation at 3,800m to support it. It's almost as if the stars aligned as if by magic. 

What was the inspiration for the outstretched hand of your artwork?

The program that Sagarmatha Next launched is called the ‘carry me back’ program - which invites hikers who come to enjoy Everest, to take recyclable plastics and aluminum back down with them. The outstretched hand felt like the perfect metaphor to invite people to lend a helping hand. I try to find obvious metaphors to invite people into our conversation, so the public can understand what we're asking them to do!

How did you prepare for your health after Mount Everest? How far did you climb?

The art installation is at 3,800 meters. The only preparation I made was that we had altitude medication with us. We listened to our guides, took medication, and made sure we were well-hydrated and well-rested every day. In the end, we walked up to Everest base camp and then a little higher to Kala Pattar. We also took a detour on the way back, and went through the Chola Pass glacier.

Have you and your partners noticed any improvement in the trail situation?

Sagarmatha is constantly collecting data and we hope to have figures by the end of the season. The hope is that the numbers of people participating in the carry-me-back program will rise, and outpace the increase in tourists!

‘But when you talk to the Sherpas, they seem really happy because all this gives them a lot more opportunities. I think I'm a bit sad about it, but everything has a price."

What is your ethical attitude towards Mount Everest and the life of the Sherpas there? Are the summit hikes often life-threatening?

We didn't summit Everest, we simply hiked to Everest Base Camp which is a very safe and affordable adventure. That being said, I worry about the effects of excessive tourism and the loss of culture and livelihoods. One of the things you really feel when you visit is the impact of tourism. Everything, from shelter to food caters to tourists - so much that the culture feels like it's somewhat disappeared. On the flip side, when you talk to the local Sherpas, they seem happy with the new financial opportunities that it affords them - so it's not black and white. 

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Courtesy the artist