The Tibetan Photo Project was conceived accidentally. In 2001, after meeting exiled Tibetan monks who were touring his hometown in Northern California, photographer and film maker Joe Mickey decided to sponsor a monk exiled in India. Along with his first letter to the monk, Jam Yang Norbu, Joe sent a disposable camera, with the only request his has ever made: ’show us what you want us to see and know about your lives’. The result of that fortuitous whim is The Tibetan Photo Project.
a small group of friends © joe mickey, the tibetan photo project
Jam Yang Norbu sent photos back to Joe, of life with his fellow refugee monks behind the walls of the monastery in Southern India providing a fresh and unique look at life as a monk, from the inside. The shots are remarkable, and show how much we have in common with the monks. According to the photos, the monks are not locked in an endless OM, they don’t just pray and meditate endlessly in clouds of incense … they wrestle, they giggle, and their dormitories show the same excited camaraderie as a frat house from time to time.
courtyard, drepung © joe mickey, the tibetan photo project
As the the documentary ‘Voices in Exile‘ makes clear, there is one thing that sets these photos apart from the thousands of photos that make up our perception of the Tibetans: these are shot by Tibetans, of Tibetans. None of the images are coached or contrived by Western ideals or perceptions of this 2500 year old culture.
monks debate © joe mickey, the tibetn photo project
What began as disposable cameras behind monastery walls not generally open to public view has become a massive project founded on raising awareness and attention to the plight of the Tibetans. The Project has reached beyond monastery walls, and has given glimpses into Tibetan beauty pagaents, rock concerts, festivals, and markets, among other things.
drepung monks, © joe mickey, the tibetan photo project
When you take the time to peruse the many photo galleries on display on the Project’s website, I guarantee you will be moved and inspired to smile.
