Urgain Zawa

I am Urgain Zawa, a visual artist from Ladakh. Growing up in close relationship with nature and traditional ways of living has deeply shaped my artistic practice. My work reflects my concern with the rapid transformations taking place in Ladakh due to climate change and modern development, and how these changes are affecting the region’s landscape, architecture, and cultural practices. 

I primarily work with natural materials such as soil, clay, paper mache, and found objects, alongside ground-level research and documentation. Through my practice, I draw from local rituals, oral histories, and indigenous knowledge systems to engage with fading cultural memories and lived experiences. 

My work often takes the form of sculpture and installation, where I explore the tension between tradition and transformation. Through these processes, I attempt to create a space for reflection on what is being lost, what is being reshaped, and how cultural identity continues to evolve in the face of environmental and social change