Portraits of Tibet by Diane Barker, published by Graffeg 2022. Text and Photograph Copyright © Diane Barker 2022. Book Copyright © Graffeg 2022.

This collection of 108 portrait images documents several journeys made by photographer Diane Barker who became immersed in the everyday lives of the ancient nomadic people of Tibet – one of the last great surviving nomad communities in the world.

These photographs share the timeless practices and traditions of nomadic life as well as the shifts and changes which have become apparent more recently, offering a unique insight into these natural stewards of the land.

Reviews:

'Many Tibetan people have never seen their homeland, and for them Portraits of Tibet provides a context that is rarely seen – a vital lens through which they and others will be better able to understand the culture and real-life experiences of its people.' Yeshi Jampa, Taste Tibet

‘Diane Barker’s sensitive and exquisite pictures of Tibetan nomads are a beautiful tribute to a beautiful people whose lifestyle, culture, and identity are increasingly under threat and yet belong to the world's spiritual heritage.’ Matthieu Ricard, writer, photographer, translator and Buddhist monk

Diane Barker is a photographer and artist based in a small Worcestershire village. She was born in a pub and still lives in the home of her birth. She studied Art History at the University of East Anglia and went on to do a photo project MA at the University of Central England. Diane’s nomadic roots trace back to the 70s as a hippie living in a camper van in America, and at age 25 she met her first Tibetans, when the 16th Karmapa and his entourage visited Wales.

In her 30s she became a painter, exhibiting widely in London and around the UK, and in her 40s photography took over when she began travelling to India. A Buddhist boyfriend, teaching English to monks in Sikkim, took her into the heart of the Tibetan community and she began documenting their lives along with those of Indian village people in the Himalayan foothills.

She first encountered Tibetan nomads, or Drokpa, in 1999 in the Changthang desert of Ladakh and fell in love with the rawness, beauty and simplicity of their traditional earth-based culture. Ever since then the Tibetan nomads have been her photographic obsession and the subject of her heart. She has travelled extensively in eastern Tibet (now part of Sichuan Province, Gansu, Qinghai, Yunnan and TAR, China).

Diane’s exhibitions have toured around the UK and appeared in Mumbai and many of her photos have been exhibited in group shows in the UK, in India and in New York. Her work has also appeared in many books, publications and online platforms.

Meet Diane Barker in the Graffeg Meet the Author Podcast. With producer and interviewer Keiran Manetta-Jones, Diane tells all about her latest photography book, Portraits of Tibet.

This collection of 108 portrait images documents several journeys made by photographer Diane who became immersed in the everyday lives of the ancient nomadic people of Tibet – one of the last great surviving nomad communities in the world.

These photographs share the timeless practices and traditions of nomadic life as well as the shifts and changes which have become apparent more recently, offering a unique insight into these natural stewards of the land.

To request review copies, interviews or images for use with editorial, please contact: hannah@graffeg.com/01554 824000

Bird Eye Books is an imprint of Graffeg, designed to publish high-quality illustrated books about the visual arts. We work with authors, artists, sculptors, ceramicists, photographers, illustrators, crafts people, architects and other creatives to publish beautiful books about our visual culture.

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