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ON TOP OF THE WORLD
LAYA
This is Sonam. A 23-year old nomad and indigenous Layap living in one of the most remote villages of the world: Laya.
Sonams family offered me their altar room to sleep in. In the morning, Sonam showed us their Yaks in the Highlands (around 4,000m above sea level). She sat down, watched and counted the Yaks. This is the moment the photograph was taken. Non-staged, just a proud nomad in her habitat.
Fine art print on aluminium dibond
Hahnemühle FineArt Baryta
Wooden frame in alder included
Aluminium rail in the back
PHOTO BOMB
PARO
It was a truly magical day. Not only because the monks spontaneously invited us to lunch with them and join a sacred annual ceremony - it was so special because I got to feel the spirit of religion and deeply rooted culture. The whole village came together to pray. During the prayers I sat next to a little girl in a shiny blue dress. I showed her my camera and we joked around. After the ceremony, the monks asked me to take a picture of them. It took them a while to get into position and when they finally stood still a little someone in a shiny blue dress decided to get my attention back by photo bombing right through the picture. Do you see it? She is literally flying haha
Part of a limited edition set
Includes a Certificate of Authenticity
Only few editions left - the most wanted piece
Fine art print on aluminium dibond
Hahnemühle FineArt Baryta
Wooden frame in alder included
Aluminium rail in the back
Part of a limited edition set
Includes a Certificate of Authenticity
Only few editions left
EMMA
LAYA
During our hike to the Yaks with our host Sonam, a lively dog we named Emma dashed towards me. Out of the blue, she greeted me with an oddly familiar vibe, sticking by my side all day. Emma tagged along during interviews, sat down with us watching the stunning views from the mountain top, and guided me around her home.
This story brings tears to my eyes as I grapple with the mysterious bond we formed. Despite my hysterical fear of dogs, I found myself cuddling with Emma on the grass in Laya. At day's end, she gently pressed her snout into my hands and disappeared, leaving me pondering this unexplainable connection.
Fine art print on aluminium dibond
Hahnemühle FineArt Baryta
Wooden frame in alder included
Aluminium rail in the back
FOCUS
PARO
In the midst of a sacred ceremony. It's an annual community tradition, an exclusive gathering where everyone from the village comes together to pray for a good harvest. The locals are dressed in their finest attire. Amidst this scene, there's a young monk, too young to play an instrument or to know all the prayers. Either way, he is making a sincere effort to stay focused.
Part of a limited edition set
Includes a Certificate of Authenticity
Only few editions left
Fine art print on aluminium dibond
Hahnemühle FineArt Baryta
Wooden frame in alder included
Part of a limited edition set
Includes a Certificate of Authenticity
Only few editions left
CEREMONY
PARO
"What is your favorite part of being a monk? Playing the trumpet - that is my favorite part. Our day is very structured, from the rise of the sun to the sunset. Playing the trumpet is fun."
- (Interview with Tashi "I am a monk")
Fine art print on aluminium dibond
Hahnemühle FineArt Baryta
Wooden frame in alder included
LIFELONG MEDITATION
PARO
On a hike, I crossed paths with a monk who warmly invited us to his sanctuary for tea. "His" monastery, I call it, even though monks are all about detachment. This monk, more specifically a Lama, has dedicated countless years to the monkhood. His request to go into "lifelong meditation", envisioning a solitary spot like a cave, to pray for world peace until his last breath, faced a detour.
Instead, the monk body asked him to wait until his 60th birthday. The challenge: renovate and solo-run a modest monastery until then. Now, he’s sharing the space with a gentle elderly lady he welcomed in and eight dogs. Dive into the "Unusual Professions" section for an intimate look at his extraordinary life. A captivating story of a wonderful and humble soul.
Part of a limited edition set
Includes a Certificate of Authenticity
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Fine art print on aluminium dibond
Hahnemühle FineArt Baryta
Wooden frame in alder included
Part of a limited edition set
Includes a Certificate of Authenticity
Available
LOOK AT ME I LOOK AT YOU
PUNAKHA
For hours, I hung out of the car window with a banana, hoping to attract monkeys. It wasn't until the last day of the trip that my tactic paid off.
There, by the roadside, they finally appeared. At first, just one, the young fellow in the picture. When we stopped the car and surveyed the scene, we understood that he was the leader of a whole troop of monkeys, ready to transfer the road into the jungle below. Initially, he flashed his teeth, a threat, but sensing no harm, he relaxed, granting me the chance to capture his portrait.
Fine art print on aluminium dibond
Hahnemühle FineArt Baryta
Wooden frame in alder included
MULTI FUNCTION
LAYA
Nights in the Highlands were bone-chilling. The sole source of warmth for the entire family was a modest oven positioned at the room's center (we slept in the altar room, so heating was a bit of a luxury, if you can call it that). However, this oven was more than a heat source.
Besides fending off the cold, it doubled as a multi-purpose workhorse. Water for bathing was warmed on it, meals were prepared, and, somewhat regrettably, all sorts of waste, including plastic, found its way into its fiery belly.
This unassuming oven played a pivotal role in the nomads' daily life. I'm struck by the contradiction of the hand on the timeless oven, a relic from centuries past, and the contrasting image of a cell phone in the other hand. A snapshot capturing the essence of tradition meeting modernity.
Part of a limited edition set
Includes a Certificate of Authenticity
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Fine art print on aluminium dibond
Hahnemühle FineArt Baryta
Wooden frame in alder included
Part of a limited edition set
Includes a Certificate of Authenticity
Only a few left
HAPPY DANCE
PUNAKHA
In Bhutan, archery isn't a casual game; it's the national sport. It brings communities together, letting them celebrate their roots and strengthen bonds.
In Bhutan's past, bows and arrows weren't just tools; they were, especially in the highlands, crucial for survival during wars and hunts. These bow and arrow stories echo through Bhutanese myths, and gods wielding them are seen as particularly good omens.
So, when an archer nails the target, the cheers and dances aren't just about winning. It's a nod to history, survival, and the enduring Bhutanese spirit deeply connected to tradition.
Fine art print on aluminium dibond
Hahnemühle FineArt Baryta
Wooden frame in alder included
MORNING TEA
LAYA
Good morning!
This face greeted me as I woke up in Bhutan's highlands, in the village of Laya. "Come in, have tea," he warmly invited. Honestly, I was just longing for water, but water wasn't the local go-to; it was all about tea, the Chai we know from India. So, I stepped inside, shared a cup of tea, and settled around the oven. The rest of the family, still bundled up next to the oven in Yack blankets, gradually woke up to join the cozy gathering.
Part of a limited edition set
Includes a Certificate of Authenticity
Almost sold out
Fine art print on aluminium dibond
Hahnemühle FineArt Baryta
Wooden frame in alder included
Part of a limited edition set
Includes a Certificate of Authenticity
Available
LAYAP
LAYA
For a few months now, you can drive to a spot that makes it "only" a day's trek to reach Laya by foot. Curious about life before this change, I asked, "How was it back then?" "It was tough," she replied. "Winters were bone-chilling, and food was scarce. I herded Yaks, kept an eye on the kids while my husband traveled to Gasa, a village days away on foot."
Things are looking up now, she continued. With the allowance to pick cordyceps, more wealth flows into the village, enabling better supplies and improving life for everyone.
Fine art print on aluminium dibond
Hahnemühle FineArt Baryta
Wooden frame in alder included
SIMPLY HAPPY
PARO
This is what happiness looks like.
I met this wonderful woman at a small monastery in Bhutan. She had dementia and hearing loss but still she was smiling non-stop. I sat down and tried to communicate with her (there was no outcome of the conversation but it still made both of us happy haha). The photograph of her was taken when we left the monastery - goodbye sweet lady. I hope you’re still smiling 🫶🏼
Part of a limited edition set
Includes a Certificate of Authenticity
Only few editions left
Fine art print on aluminium dibond
Hahnemühle FineArt Baryta
Wooden frame in alder included
Part of a limited edition set
Includes a Certificate of Authenticity
Available
MALA
PARO
I got a peek into the life of a traditional Bhutanese farmer. Their homes, built on elevations, house cattle below, surrounded by rice and barley terraces. It's evident how spiritually connected these people are — not just with nature but within themselves. This photograph captures the farm owner in a moment of prayer.
What's in his hands? The Bhutanese use prayer beads called “mala” for praying. These malas consist of small beads, often made from materials like wood or bone strung together on a cord or chain. Buddhists in Bhutan, and elsewhere, use malas to tally repetitions of prayers or mantras in their spiritual practice. Each bead signifies a prayer or mantra recitation, aiding practitioners in focusing their minds during meditation and prayer.
Fine art print on aluminium dibond
Hahnemühle FineArt Baryta
Wooden frame in alder included
TIGERS NEST
PARO
Bhutan's Tiger's Nest: an incredible monastery clinging to a cliff in the Himalayas. Known as Paro Taktsang, this sacred site is a testament to Bhutanese craftsmanship and spirituality. Apparently, the founder of Bhutan (Guru Rinpoche) flew on a Tigress to this spot and meditated in a cave there. The monastery, built around that cave in 1692, became a place of longing for Buddhists and all people on a spiritual journey.
This place truly holds special energy in it. I have been hiking up there 3 times until today and every time I can feel that this place is one os a kind on earth.
Part of a limited edition set
Includes a Certificate of Authenticity
Available
Fine art print on aluminium dibond
Hahnemühle FineArt Baryta
Wooden frame in alder included
Part of a limited edition set
Includes a Certificate of Authenticity
Only a few editions left
MONDAYS
PARO
A Monday at a small monastery in Bhutan. The residents of the area dressed up in beautiful traditional clothing to come together, pray together and eat together.
Bhutan showed me a version of community I’ve never experienced before, so welcoming, curious, trustful and true version of grace of charity.
Fine art print on aluminium dibond
Hahnemühle FineArt Baryta
Wooden frame in alder included
THE GOOD DRESS
PARO
This wonderful woman showed me proudly her outfit she was wearing particularly for the ceremony at the local monastery.
After the ceremony, we all ate together and even though we did not speak the same language I felt very welcomed.
Do you see the teeth? Find out what is going on in another picture.
Part of a limited edition set
Includes a Certificate of Authenticity
Available
Fine art print on aluminium dibond
Hahnemühle FineArt Baryta
Wooden frame in alder included
Part of a limited edition set
Includes a Certificate of Authenticity
Almost sold out!
BETEL NUT SMILE
PARO
In the heart of the Himalayas, Bhutanese locals embrace a (rather intimidating looking) tradition of chewing betel nuts 🌰. This age-old custom isn't just about the flavors; it's a cultural emblem of hospitality and a means to stay rooted in their heritage. Additionally, chewing betel nuts is known to induce a mild feeling of euphoria.
On my social media you can see how the practice looks like.
Though I was offered it numerous times, I never gave it a shot after learning it's considered a drug in Europe, haha.
Fine art print on aluminium dibond
Hahnemühle FineArt Baryta
Wooden frame in alder included
3 YEARS IN ISOLATION
PARO
Meet a young monk from Bhutan embarking on a profound journey – a 3-year retreat. Ever heard of it?
In Bhutan, monks commit to a 3-year, 3-month, and 3-day retreat. It's not just a pause; it's a journey into spiritual depths, a deliberate detachment from the clamor of the world. Within this sanctuary of solitude, they seek self-discovery and ascend to higher planes of consciousness. Fully isolated from other people.
Imagine small huts or caves nestled in the tranquil mountains, far from life's hustle. Here, Bhutanese monks adopt a life of simplicity, pouring hours into meditation, prayer, and spiritual exercises. Food and water is left by family members outside the cave.
This intentional isolation isn't about escapism; it's a cocoon for profound introspection, a cocoon that shields them from external distractions. In the seclusion, they find clarity, concentration, and a pathway to detach from the influences of the outside world. More in "storytelling".
Part of a limited edition set
Includes a Certificate of Authenticity
Available
Fine art print on aluminium dibond
Hahnemühle FineArt Baryta
Wooden frame in alder included
