On the brink of survival: soulful portraits of Tibetans by Phil Borges

Tibet is a very special and amazing country. However, it’s not even quite a country, because officially it is an autonomous region of China. There are 13 provinces, and the largest city is the capital of Lhasa. If you have ever been to Tibet or are familiar with its inhabitants, then you will surely agree that they are distinguished by extraordinary modesty and the greatest kindness. However, in ancient times, the Tibetans were considered an extremely warlike people who constantly fought with their neighbors and were busy expanding the territory. Everything has changed with the advent of Buddhism in the country. The war gradually stopped, and the number of monasteries exceeded 2.5 thousand.

The climate in Tibet is peculiar, mountainous, and the temperature difference between the southern and northern parts is very significant. All Tibetans consider their country independent and do not recognize their affiliation with China. Despite the fact that the country is characterized by a high level of poverty, people here are always welcoming and friendly. From childhood, they teach here not to let go of bad thoughts that cloud your mind and take away life energy. Religion says that you can be happy anywhere, and it is by this principle that they live. Let them face a lot of difficulties, problems and hardships, but this only affects their faces, but not their hearts. Inside, the Tibetans remain strong and independent. That is how they were portrayed by photographer Phil Borges, who devoted his life to shooting small nations and tribes.