Portrait nominee

Three young monks are ready to perform the Sha Na Cham dance. This dance commemorates the courageous act of the monk Pelkyi Dorji who assassinated the anti-Buddhist Tibetan king Langdarma in 842 AD, symbolizing the transformation into powerful Tantric practitioners. As the Sha Na Cham dancers represent protective deities, only monks can take the roles.

2024, Gasa

As an artist and photographer, Liang Li uses photography as the main medium. Her works have been conducted in the Himalayan region, South Asia and Kashmir region, focusing on the cultural complexity of different faiths and regions. From a female perspective, she explores the philosophical roots of non-Western religions in the context of geopolitical and cultural conflicts. Liang Li has won many international photography awards and become a member of the jury of UNESCO Youth Eyes on the Silk Roads Photo Contest in 2023 and 2024. She also got the distinction of Licentiate (LRPS) from Royal Photographic Society. She lives and works in Beijing.