Captured in Butuo County, Liangshan, this portrait depicts an elderly Yi man seated beneath the mountain sun, wearing the traditional black headscarf that has long been a symbol of Yi identity. With a pipe in hand and a calm, unwavering gaze, he embodies a generation whose lives were deeply connected to the land, tradition, and community.
The tobacco he smokes was grown and prepared by his own hands, reflecting a way of life shaped by self-sufficiency and a close relationship with nature. The striking contrast between the vivid blue backdrop and the deep black folds of his headscarf draws attention to the textures, character, and dignity etched across his face.
Part of the Faces of Liangshan series, this photograph celebrates the resilience, wisdom, and cultural heritage of the Yi people of Southwest China. More than a portrait, it is a record of a disappearing generation and a tribute to the enduring spirit of mountain life.
Museum-quality fine art print.
Photographed in Liangshan, Sichuan, China.
