Norbu Sitar, a national inheritor of intangible cultural heritage of Mensar thangka painting and a member of 11th Tibetan People's Political Consultative Conference (TPPCC) Regional Committee receives an interview at the intermission of a panel discussion. [Photo/Tenzin Woebom]

Manchon Norbu Sitar, a committee member from culture and art circle, offers advices and suggestions for the protection, inheritance and development of Tibetan thangka. He points out that artists have the responsibility to educate people, inspire people and promote positive values.

"With high artistic value and unique painting style, thangka artwork is the epitome of traditional Tibetan folk culture. As an inheritor of thangka painting, I think my mission is not just painting thangkas, but telling people Tibetan culture, philosophy and knowledge behind it," Norbu Sitar said.

In order to protect and develop thangka, the profound art of religious painting, Norbu Sitar established a thangka academy in Lhasa and has dedicated his life to adding glory to the traditional art.

Norbu Sitar has so far cultivated over 300 thangka painters. He hopes he could create the academy into a representative base for inheriting traditional Tibetan thangka painting.

Talking about the development, inheritance and protection of Tibetan thangka, Norbu Sitar said, "Thangka painters have faithfully passed down the art from masters to apprentices in a heritage chain. Many painting institutes offer thangka courses to students, and the tradition of teaching skills from masters is still tightly controlled today. I believe there will be more and more thangka painters, and the artistry of thangka will be gradually improved and renowned both at home and abroad."

And regarding President Xi Jinping's four expectations of the artists, which are 'to consolidate the confidence in Chinese culture and use art to inspire people', "to serve and praise the people with positive works", "to be more innovative" and 'to hold the idea and inspire society with high culture', Norbu Sitar pointed out that culture of a nation stands for aesthetic appreciation, pursuit and ideals from ancient to modern times, linking the past with its future.

He said, "President Xi Jinping has called upon artists to consolidate the confidence in culture and create more inspiring and classical works. His speech is really impressive. Artists should create works that inspire the people and are appreciated by the people. As a thangka painter, I think it's the opportunity and responsibility for us, especially the young generation, to create more magnificent thangka paintings."

Nowadays, there are more and more thangka painters like Norbu Sitar conveying sacred knowledge of ancient art to the modern world. No matter whom they learned from, or no matter how their qualifications are, they all hope the traditional thangka art can be developed and inherited well. They also hope more and more people can get to know Tibetan unique culture from thangka.