/ State of the World / State of the World / Politics impact

The Last of the Tibetan Nomads

  • Prize
    Winner in State of the World/Politics impact
  • Photographer
    John Tao, Taiwan
  • Category
    Environmental issues
  • Studio
    Chickabiddy

A pro bono case in Yushu.

The Tibetan nomads's way of life is changing drastically due to climate change, urbanization and China's unification plan, leaving the people in all generations uncertainty and identity crisis.

My job was to document the ancient Tibetan nomad traditions, hoping to preserve them through my work.

In the morning the daughter collects cattle feces for fuel, at noon the father go high in the mountains, at home grandma prays for the family, and mom working on Tanka (drawing) with her child nearby, on the grassland the teens dances.

Beautiful, but disappearing.