Photo shows an exquisite thangka painting with White Tara on it. White Tara represents the enlightened and liberating activity of all the Buddhas. She embodies the motherly aspect of universal compassion. [Photo taken by Tenzin Woebom/VTIBET.com]
Photo shows an exquisite thangka painting with Green Tara on it. The Goddess Green Tara is a gentle female embodiment of universal compassion. Green Tara is the embodiment of the activity of all Buddha. [Photo taken by Tenzin Woebom/VTIBET.com]
The 7th Tibetan Thangka Art Fair will be held in Lhasa, capital of Tibet, from December 15 to 22, according to a report released by Culture Bureau of Tibet Autonomous Region.
Aiming to not only promote the development and protection of Tibet's traditional and excellent thangka art, but also help people better understand the basic aspects of the Buddhist doctrine as well as establish a link between the believer and the symbol of the deity depicted on it, the thangka art fair has been successfully held for six years in a row since 2010.
Tibet now has over 2,000 professional thangka painters making thousands of excellent thangka works annually
"Since the thangka art fair held in 2010, we have awarded 4 painters the title of thangka art master, selected 99 graded thangka painters, and published ‘Tibet Classic Thangka Art Album', ‘Collection of Tibet Thangka Art Papers' and other books. According to statistic, currently, there are more than 2,000 professional thangka painters in Tibet producing thousands of excellent thangka works annually, " said Norbu Tsering, director of industrial department of Tibet Culture Bureau.
"We conducted a sample survey on 28 people among the 99 graded thangka painters, and found that a total of 2,748 pieces of thangka were made from 2010 to 2016, with an average price of 116,700 yuan for each thangka," according to Norbu Tsering.
"The thangka art fair brings new opportunities for the development of the intangible cultural heritage. We can take the chance to carry out craftsmanship project to form a new economic form, create economic power and promote craftsmanship of intangible cultural heritage," said Norbu Tsering, adding, "traditional thangka art has gradually embarked on the road of industrialization with the rise of craze for Tibetan thangka."
Thangka artwork is the epitome of traditional Tibetan folk culture
"With a history of more than 1,300 years, thangka painting is an amalgamation of both art and faith. Delicate skills are highly required for this traditional art form. The composition of each piece is highly geometric, and all the elements and the various ritualistic implements, are laid out on a systematic grid of angles and lines," said Norbu Tsering, adding "ever since thangka is a kind of painting scroll, people could take it wherever they want, therefore we say this traditional Tibetan artwork is very special."
With high artistic value and unique painting style, thangka artwork is the epitome of traditional Tibetan folk culture. People can better understand Tibetan history and culture by viewing and enjoying thangka. So far, Tibetan thangka has different schools of paintings such as Manthang School, Karma Gardri School, Chintse School, Regong School and so on.
The creation of a Thangka piece is like a journey of self-cultivation. First of all, a painter will commonly choose linen cloth or cotton fabric as painting material, he or she will then stitch the material's edges with flax thread and stretch it on a specially made wooden frame.
Secondly, the painter will spread a paste made of animal glue mixed with talcum powder over its surface to block up the holes in it. When the paste is scraped off and the cloth gets thoroughly dried, the material is ready for painting.
Thirdly, the artist works out the sketches of the images with charcoal sticks. The drawing usually begins with the figure in the centre and then goes to the surrounding deities or landscape. Colouring comes last. And after the painting is done, it is mounted on a brocaded silk border.
