Living Hands was a joint photo exhibition between Torana Galleries and the Tibet Artisan Initiative, recording some of Tibet's important artisans, including weavers of Wangden meditation carpets and other Tibetan textiles. A catalogue was produced for the show (now out of print, but we hope to re-issue during 2009).

The photographs were taken during a series of field trips in March and April this year, during which we visited artisans in their workshops in central Tibet. Some of the artisans work in the lhasa area, others in remote villages two day's drive from the city. These are the artisans who produce the Wangden village carpets, blankets and other textiles that you can find in our stores (in addition to our regular carpets and area rugs from our Lhasa workshop).

As well as making photographic portraits we also interviewed the artisans to find out the background to their art and their personal situation. These interviews form the basis for the notes in the catalogue. They are a document of the current state of Tibetan crafts, as well as the challenges of pursuing traditional forms in a rapidly changing environment.

Crafts found nowhere else

It was especially exciting to meet weavers making Wangden carpets in remote villages in Tibet. Until a few years ago these rugs were known only from antique examples and the art of making them was thought to be lost. In fact a handful of elderly weavers remained in the mid-90s. Now a new group of local weavers is learning to make these unique rugs. We have a few examples in our galleries. Previously, the main customers for Wangden meditation rugs were Tibetan monasteries, who valued these rugs for their warmth and for the specific designs woven for monastic use. Today this market has dried up so Wangden weavers must find new customers if their craft is to survive.

Photo: Photographer Mimi Kuo with Tibetan workshop owner Passang