War-torn region examined

High Asia, an exhibit of photographs examining the lifestyles of the people of Pakistan, Afghanistan, Nepal and other countries in the region is on display at the Littman gallery in Smith Memorial Student Union.

The exhibit runs until the end of November and is funded by the Geography Department.

Barbara Brower, associate professor of Geography and coordinator of the exhibit, feels that the photos give unique insight to the lives of those in this war-torn region.

“Photographs really have a power to move people that other media don’t,” Brower said.

The High Asia region includes the disputed home of the Dalai Lama, Tibet, the former home of the Taliban, Afghanistan and Pakistan, constantly at odds with India in a nuclear cold war of the 21st century.

Brower believes there’s more to the region than what is revealed by the headlines, and feels it’s the university’s job to examine that which is below the mainstream radar.

“We need to learn more about the region,” Brower said, “and it’s our obligation to tell people there is more to places than what you see in the news.”

The exhibit follows a path through the region, much as if one was touring the area, each photo representing stops along a trail through the mountainous region.

Photo composition ranges from examinations of shepherds and villagers to scenic landscapes and natural wonders.

The exhibit follows in the footsteps of a similar exhibit focusing on Tibet that ran a year and a half ago to coincide with the Dalai Lama’s visit to Portland.