I am interested in the anthropology of art, religion and politics. I have previously conducted research about the Chinese diaspora (Chinese artists, restaurant workers) in the US, Beijing art villages, and also some comparative work on northwestern native Americans during my MA studies. My regional interest is in the Tibetan Kham region in the southwestern part of China (Yunnan and Sichuan province).

The current project I am working on is studying a Tibetan township’s cultural politics and cultural production during the process of its modernization, observing the daily interactions between authorities and local people, especially during the poverty-alleviation program carried out by Chinese government. I seek to explore how local residents achieve agency in their negotiations with authorities while pursuing projects to both revitalize their traditional culture and avoid being left behind by the modern world. I am also involved in local efforts to improve rural education in this frontier area, and participating in ongoing experiments to incorporate local culture, art, and anthropology to supplement institutional modern education.