Tibetan Modern Art goes on display in the capital
P. Anima
NEW DELHI: "Vajra Vision", a new exhibition of paintings by Tibetan artists, is on at Open Palm Court Gallery of India Habitat Centre here.
The exhibition offers an interesting insight into Tibetan art spanning from the classical to the contemporary.
Union Tourism and Culture Minister Ambika Soni inaugurated the exhibition on Tuesday, describing the show as one of its kind.
Exclusivity
There is a certain exclusivity about Tibetan modern art as it has hardly any resemblance to the modern art movement the world over. It is believed that Tibet may not have what is conventionally known as modern art, but what the artists have done is to record the transmigration of a civilisation. The paintings on display here now include works of Ang Sang, Pempa, Gade, Ang Sang, Tseten Gyume, Tsering Nyanduk, Sonam Tsering, Kaltse and Gyan B. Lama. Most of these artists were born in Lhasa and are part of the "Gedun Chephel Artiest Guild". Almost all of them were born in the turbulent 1960s and `70s. They have kept pace with the changing times and trends and taken care to remain original yet drawn their inspiration from the new multi-faceted Tibet.
Some of these artists have exhibited their works in the US, the United Kingdom, Germany, Nepal, Tibet, China, Malaysia and Japan.
Buddhist influence
One factor that makes Tibetan art markedly different is the undeniable influence of Buddhism on Tibetan artists. The spell of Buddhism especially in the early works of these artists is also evident in the works on display here.
The exhibition has been sponsored by the fashion house Yasmine Designs and brought to the Capital by A. Bikram Rana of Windhorse Gallery, Kathmandu. It is open up to this Saturday.