Shambala Diaries, 2019
Photo Series
10 pieces
//
The photograph series Shambala Diaries developed during a time when I specifically visited non-commercial and unknown locations in the Himalayan mountains of India and formed close bonds with local village people.
A secret city known as Shambala, where only enlightened people can find has a meaningful part in the Buddhist belief. This place is believed to be exist in the Himalayan mountains. During my spiritual journey that had no route, I believed in the existence of Shambala in the Himalayan mountains and hoped to arrive there one day. All the time I spent there, the city of Shambala haunted my mind and haunted my dreams… However, kindness and happyness of the people I met along the way made me realize that Shambala is just a state of consciousness. Then, I started photographing portraits of the people that i called as “natives of Shambala”. All of them have given me valuable information and theachings throughout my journey. It is no coincidence that many of them are old grandmothers, young monks, or the lonely mountains itself.
Diren Demir 