Photographs and Words by Di Wei
One morning in a tucked-away café in Lhasa, nestled within the city’s winding pedestrian streets, we stepped into the pulse of Tibetan youth culture. Boxers, skateboarders, DJs, models, stylists, fortune tellers—this unassuming space buzzed with energy. Our journey unfolded in and around this café, documenting the young people reshaping the city’s creative landscape.
This project, titled Then, Be a Himalaya Boxer, explores the interplay between global influences and traditional heritage through the youth of the Tibetan plateau. From the rhythms of West Coast hip-hop pulsing through a young barber’s shop to the disciplined movements of a shy yet fiercely determined teenage fighter known as “Cobra,” this series reflects on how global cultural currents are reimagining their lives.
At its heart, Then, Be a Himalaya Boxer is a visual meditation on the fluidity of identity. It highlights the courage and adaptability of the youth it depicts, and transforms the plateau into a mirror that reflects the tension between preserving cultural roots and embracing change.
production Freddie Tsang styling Di Wei & Freddie Tsang assistant Longfei
Join our membership community. Support our work, receive a complimentary subscription to Atmos Magazine, and more.
Hip-Hop, Fashion, and Boxing Are Reshaping Tibetan Youth Culture
Hip-Hop, Fashion, and Boxing Are Reshaping Tibetan Youth Culture
