SPITI is one of the last remnants of traditional Tibetan society; a remote community only recently opened to outsiders after being closed for many decades following the Sino-Indian border war. The valley, a high altitude desert, is one the highest and bleakest inhabited places on earth. Villagers cultivate terraces irrigated by melt water from glaciers and tend yak, goats and sheep. Still dominated by Tibetan Buddhism and its monastries, life is beginning to change as western goods, Hindi state education and entrpreneurism collide with a culture of monastic rituals, traditional healers and subsistence agriculture. Villagers live in mud houses, plough their barley fields with yaks, cook on burning dung and come home to watch Hindi films on television. Patrick Sutherland's acclaimed black and white photographs have been published by Network with an introduction by Tibetan film director Tenzing Sonam and dedication by Cartier Bresson.

Admission Free : Midlands Arts Centre Birmingham opening times :

open dailey 09.00 - 23.00

For further information please contact:

Tickets and Information 0121 440 3838

Website Midlands Arts Centre

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'from Spiti : The Forbidden Valley'

copyright Patrick Sutherland

| 13 July - 1 September 2002 |