Karma Choezin shows one of his pieces

Gold and silversmiths are called ga wa in Tibetan. Ga means “sculpting,” and wa refers to the person who makes it. In some U-Tsang regions of Tibet, ga wa have low social status in the community, whereas in other Tibetan areas such as the Kham region, they are well respected artisans, primarily because they earn better income with their skills.

Tashi Dorjie was one of the first people to teach traditional crafts after the Cultural Revolution ended in 1976. He was a pious Buddhist and encouraged locals to stop hunting, drinking, and smoking. Anyone who stopped was welcome to be his student. Today Dorjie’s son Karma Choezin is continuing his father’s heritage, passing his skills onto artists in his community of Dzongsar, Dege County. Karma Choezin makes Tibetan accessories such as earrings, purses, and lockets.

ID: ETAC_2016_07-13_DD_0416