Peter Van Ham
BIO: For 35 years, Peter van Ham has been exploring the Western Himalayas. Specifically, he has journeyed to regions that had been closed to external access for more than half a decade to research the peoples, environments, and issues across disciplines such as geography, ethnology, archaeology, and art history. Inspired by the tracks of the great Tibetan translator and builder of sanctuaries, Rinchen Zangpo (11th century CE), Peter was the first – and in many places the only person– to document the few surviving temple sites in the Tibetan realm. The temples’ artwork – wall paintings and sculptures – are of great importance, not only for Tibetan culture, but also for the cultures of India, Central and Middle Asia, and people across the world. Supported by H.H. the Dalai Lama, the Archaeological Survey of India and UNESCO, Peter van Ham has shed new light on one of the most remote places of human heritage. Join The Explorers Club on Monday, April 17th to experience 90 minutes of raw photography, film, and sound from the Western Himalayas. EC-member Peter van Ham will take the audience along on his varied journeys to participate in the cultural legacy of the secluded regions of the Western Himalayas.