To mark the 60th anniversary of peaceful liberation of Tibet Autonomous Region, China Tibet Online launches a brand new column called "Tibetan Stories" to record interesting and news-worthy stories happened in Tibet. It has one theme each month with four articles for each theme. The first series of "Tibetan Stories" this month focuses on the stories of the generation born in 1980's in Tibet, dubbed the 'Post-80s' .
The younger generation is always absent in media coverage of Tibet because a stereotyped image of old Tibet without development is prodominant in the mainstream media coverage of the Western world. This month we explore with you some energetic and creative young people's life in Tibet.
Creative post-80sTibetan T-shirts designer Ajiang in Qamdo Prefecture, Tibet[Photo/Tibet.cn]
If you thinking about Tibet, reflections of the Potala Palace, snow capped mountains and monasteries will immediately come out. However, from the views of the younger generation of Tibetans, Tibet is more energic and more diversified.
Ajiang, a Tibetan in his twenties, eyes his hometown differently by turning Tibet into interesting symbols and putting creative designs on T-shirts. The brand "GAKAGA" created by Ajiang sells this modern cultural identity shared with other youngsters in Tibet.
"I would not only confine my business to creative T-shirts production but a whole new cultural brand with Tibetan characteristics", said Ajiang.
"GAKAGA" is from Tibetan language. It is the most basic letters for Tibetan language learners, like English character "A, B, C". According to Ajiang, the name of "GAKAGA" was made in the hope of endowing childish, funny and easy-going personalities to the brand.
Just for fun at the beginning
Ajiang was born in 1985 in Qamdo Prefecture, east of Tibet Autonomous Region, China. He went to Beijing for university study and worked in Beijing afterwards as a designer for an advertising company.
His experience in school and at work both stimulated his creativity. During his study in Peking University, Beijing from 2003-2007, Ajiang participated in many student organizations in schools and gained lots of hands-on experience by organizing students' activities, using design software and making posters.
Later working with top national illustrators in the advertising agency, Ajiang gradually formed his own idea of creating his brand in a new perspective to interpret Tibetan local culture, interesting not dull.
"T-shirt is an attitude", it is the best carrier of culture symbols
Creative T-shirt is the carrier of GAKAGA's modern understanding towards Tibet culture. Ajiang quoted his favorite writer Mark Dixon, author of "T-shirt's history - from underwear to coats", that "T-shirt is an attitude, because with the rise of fashion and popular culture, T-shirt is not just the style of fabric, and it displays symbols of culture connotation."
Based on the usual observation of everyday life in Tibet, Ajiang integrates elements together and put them into designs on T-shirts, such as young man's mantra, minibus out of market, sutra-debate, Tibetan language, religion gestures, etc.
Younger generation in Tibet, free of thoughts, creative minds
Ajiang pursuit of "T-shirt attitude" comes from his unique explanation towards mysterious, ancient and traditional Tibetan from a modern angle.
He said with great changes taken place in Tibet during the last few decades, both the material and spiritual life have been accelerated at a fast speed. The younger generations in Tibet nowadays are brought up with free spirits and independent personalities.
This kind of creative power embedded in DIY designs has already aroused resonance among peers.
"At present, production cost is not the biggest obstacle, while the key is if I have the ability to maintain such passion in a long time", said by Ajiang, " I think I will move on. It is necessary to create some meaningful things, a little fun, for other people in the world."
