The Alliance Française de Singapour and SzeArt present an exhibition of traditional Tibetan paintings by two established Thangka masters from Tibet, Tseden Namgyal and Puncog Dorje.
Thangka: The Roof of the World provides a rare opportunity for the public to view specially commissioned art works by the Thangka masters.
Thangka is a complicated, three-dimensional object consisting of - a picture panel which is painted or embroidered, a textile mounting; and one or more of the following: a silk cover, leather corners, wooden dowels at the top and bottom and metal or wooden decorative knobs on the bottom dowel. In Tibetan, the word 'than' means flat and the suffix 'ka' stands for painting. The Thangka is thus a kind of painting done on flat surface but which can be rolled up when not required for display, and is sometimes referred as a scroll-painting. The most common shape of a Thangka is in upright rectangular form.
This form of elaborated painting is intended to serve as a record of, and guide for contemplative experience. This way, thangkas convey iconographic information in a pictorial manner. A text of the same meditation would supply similar details in written descriptive form.
Most of these commissioned art works by Tseden Namgyal and Puncog Dorje are produced by using natural pigments and gold on cotton. The entire process demands great mastery over the drawing and perfect understanding of iconometric principles.
For more information on SzeArt, please visit www.geocities.com/szeart1711
About the Artists
Tseden Namgyal was born in a small village near Lhasa, in Tibet. He began learning the traditional art under the tutelage of his Thangka master at a very young age. Traditionally, all disciples have to adhere to very strict discipline, to master the very basic skill of working on a piece of cotton and transforming it into a piece of smooth canvas required for painting. Over the years, he learnt to use a variety of paint brushes of different sizes and apply the techniques required to complete a piece of Thangka. Many of the disciples dropped out but Tseden continued to toil day and night, even through the harsh winters, to master the skill of Thangka painting which he has now perfected.
With blessings from his Thangka master, he began selling his art works to Tibetans and eventually to overseas visitors, who came to hear of him. He now has a small team of disciples following in his footsteps.
Puncog Dorje was born in a small town in Shigatse in Tibet. Like most Tibetan children, he devoted his early life to the monastery. He learnt the traditional Tibetan painting from his Thangka master. His unique style and skills in Thangka painting has earned him a great reputation even at a very young age within the Tibetan community. He receives regular invitations during the summer months to paint in the monasteries in Shigatse, as well as in other parts of central Tibet. In recent years, he has been invited to teach Thangka painting to young Tibetan students at a self-funding school in Lhasa.
One of the highlights of the exhibition will display three of his rare paintings on “Dkyil’khor”, which took him almost two years to complete.
About Sze Art
During the course of their travel to Tibet in 1996, SzeArt had the rare opportunity to chance upon an old piece of Thangka. Taken by the natural pigment of the various colours applied and the stylised form of painting, SzeArt embarked on a journey in search of more information about this unique artwork.
In 1997, SzeArt first showcased the intriguing Thangkas in The Gallery at Isetan, in Kuala Lumpur, and had subsequent exhibitions held at various art galleries across the country
Alliance Française de Singapour would like to thank SG Private Banking (Asia
Pacific) for its continuous support for the Gallery.
SG Private Banking Gallery, Alliance Française de Singapour
2nd Level, 1 Sarkies Road Singapore 258130
Contact: Ms Serene Yap, Gallery Manager
DID: +65 6833 9314 email: syap@alliancefrancaise.org.sg |
