Dawa Drolma, was born in the 1990s in a family in Maisu Township of Dege County of Garze Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, Sichuan Province which rely on the traditional handicrafts for generations. She is also an oversea student in America. Although her works have won many awards, Dzongsar Clay actually is her first documentary.

Before that, she knew nothing about documentaries, except watching them. In addition to the documentaries, her photography works also won the international awards. And she even held personal photography exhibition in Paris.

In June, 2016, Dawa Drolma held a film exhibition with her winning documentaries Dzongsar Clay and A White Lie in Chengdu. Dzongsar Clay recorded the making process of the traditional clay sculpture in a plain way in Dzongsar, Dege County.

This documentary won many awards at home and abroad, including the first prize of International Handicraft Photography Competition held by International Crafts Council in 2012; while A White Lie which recorded a story that a cow strove to find its missing kid, won the second prize of the documentary short video at 2014 International University Student Micro-Film Ceremony.

Dawa Drolma said, “ When I filmed Dzongsar Clay, I never thought that I could win awards. Half a year after it’s been finished, one of my teachers asked whether I would like to join in the international documentary competition. I asked, ”Who held it?” Then my teacher said it was launched by an international handicraft council.”

At that time, Dawa Drolma thought that they must attach great importance to handicrafts because they were professional. Possibly her documentary could help them know more about Tibetan traditional handicraft, Tibetan-inhabited areas and the clay sculpture. So, she decided to have a try.

When Dzongsar Clay won an award, Dawa Drolma was very much motivated, confirming that she was capable of making a good film. So, she decided to film a documentary on handicraft.

At that time, Dawa Drolma’ s mother told her that their cow lost its cub, weeping every day. Then she wanted to record it. She didn’t know what it would be like when it’s finished.

Dawa Drolma followed the cow to record the whole searching course. Her mom always told her that everything had a feeling for something, even love for something, just like human beings. Sometimes they do better than people, such as the family affection.

There is such a saying in Buddhism and Tibetan traditional culture. She said she just recorded the real course.

Dawa Drolma said, “ I have been fond of traditional culture since I was a kid. It exists in our daily life with a few visual materials. I do this in case that we won’t see it one day. Then my records will be of historic value. Meanwhile, foreign spectators can have access to Tibetan culture through my films.”

Filming documentaries is neither her major nor her profession. Thanks to her love, she films documentaries. Besides, she thought it’s a kind of responsibility for her. She was born in a family which have been working on traditional Tibetan handicraft for generations.

Although she can’t make handicrafts, her grandpa and uncle are still working on it. Especially her grandpa, he has almost been devoted to the traditional handicrafts all his life.

When Dawa Drolma was young, she didn’t know what they were doing. As she grows up, she can fully understand their efforts on it. As a young generation of her family, she feels obliged to do something to inherit the traditional handicraft.

Dawa Drolma held a personal photograph exhibition in Paris. At that time, she wrote an essay about handicraft. Because of it, she was invited to give a speech in Paris. She went there several days ahead of the schedule. Then Dawa Drolma started to think about holding a photograph exhibition. It lasted just one day.

They were mainly about Dzongsar in Dege, including hitting walls, traditional clothes, singing and dancing and horse-racing.

They presented the traditional Tibetan culture and lifestyle to the audience.

Someone spoke highly of it. Because the exhibition made it possible for them to learn of a place and people that has a different culture and lifestyle. There are many Tibetans in Paris. They said it was good and triggered their nostalgia.

The exhibition is totally out of association with her major. And all the expenses for the exhibition was paid by herself, over 500 Euros. For a student, it’s a large sum of money.

At first, Dawa Drolma also considered about whether to sell tickets or not. Then she won’t spend a penny. Later on, she found there were many Tibetan visitors. And she didn’t have the right to charge them.

Because all her photos are about Tibetan culture which is not owned by herself alone. So, she changed her mind and decided to make it open to public for free.

In 2013, Dawa Drolma was recruited into Bay Path University with excellent grades. She was offered a full scholarship, majoring in both marketing and business management.

Dawa Drolma said when she first came, they always asked her where she came from. They thought she was a Han person, judging from her face. Then Dawa Drolma told them that she was Tibetan. A few people heard of it.

So, Dawa Drolma took out a map and pointed at Mt. Himalayas. Then they were surprised to find that her hometown is so far away from America.