This year we are fortunate to feature three Tibetan photographers from diverse backgrounds. We asked each of them to exhibit their work at Machik Weekend to convey their relationship to the land and culture.
Sonam Zoksang, Tibetan Photographer
Sonam Zoksang is one of the most notable Tibetan photographers in exile. His photos have been widely published in books, magazines, and newspapers, and are widely exhibited, one major show having been in a US Congressional building in Washington DC. Born in Tibet and raised in India, Zoksang moved to the US in 1985, where he now runs Vision of Tibet. Active in the Tibetan Community as an advocate for human rights and political change, he is on the Board of Directors of the US Tibet Committee and has been president of the Tibetan Association of NY & NJ. Sonam Zoksang’s mission is to tell the story of his homeland through photography. He does this by documenting Tibetans and Tibetan life, both in and out of Tibet. He often takes pictures of Tibetan refugee communities in India, as well as in the US and other countries. Zoksang’s slide presentations at schools and cultural and community centers are always well-attended; he seeks out these opportunities as he feels education is particularly important.
Tsemdo, Plateau Photographers
Tsemdo is a Tibetan photographer based in Xining City, Amdo. He considers himself lucky to have received the opportunity to continue his education and is the first college graduate from his family. In the summer of 2007, he joined a photography project called Plateau Photographers, a participatory photography project initiated by one of his teachers while he was in high school. Plateau Photographers started as a way to document endangered cultural elements on the Tibetan Plateau. Tsemdo was one of the first members to be trained in photography. During that summer in his village, he captured the process of making a new Latse, a Tibetan practice of offerings made to the local mountain gods. Since that summer, he never stopped taking photographs. By documenting the vanishing lifestyle on the Tibetan Plateau, Tsemdo aspire to address issues important to Tibetan communities in Amdo. His passion for photography and storytelling has now led him to spearhead Plateau Photographers, which continues to train Tibetan college students in photography and storytelling. He feels that the opportunity to run the program has helped him learn and improve his own photography skills and at the same time enjoy it. Tsemdo hopes to spend more time on photography and visual storytelling, and make stories that would bring positive impacts to his fellow Tibetans.
Rignam Wangkhang
Rignam Wangkhang is a Tibetan-Canadian, currently serving as a Junior Consultant at UNHCR in New Delhi, India. Rignam is a bilingual, globally minded graduate of Queen’s University with a dynamic spectrum of experience, aptitudes, and training in policy analysis, human rights, refugee and international law. He possesses extensive experience working in international and migration affairs with the United Nations and various international NGOs in a variety of international contexts in Central, South and Southeast Asia. He participated in Machik’s 2013 Summer Enrichment Program in Amdo and taught English and photography to the kids. He pursues photography as hobby and personal passion. Follow his journey:
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