The third China Thangka Art Festival opens in Lhasa. Images of Budhha on cotton or paper, Thangka painting has a history of more than a thousand years, and is a unique art form in southwest China's Tibet Autonomous Region.
The third China Thangka Art Festival opens in Lhasa.
This grand exhibition has been a highlight since the first China Thangka Art Festival. In these two-storey Tibetan buildings around the courtyard, there are 11 galleries which display more than 200 Thangka masterpieces, collected from both home and abroad.
"The festival is a grand showcase of Thangka art, and is a great stage for artists. It's a historic event in the art world of Tibet Autonomous Region and China as a whole. This is the third edition and it has become a great platform for the artists and a calling card for the region," said Han Shuli, Artists Association of China.
The works were curated from more than a thousand pieces short-listed prior to the exhibition. They are all set to compete for top honors during this exhibition.
The third China Thangka Art Festival opens in Lhasa.
Thangka is a Tibetan Buddhist painting on cotton or paper, usually depicting a Buddhist deity, scene, or mandala, and has a history of over a thousand years. It is currently on the UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage list.
Organizers want to to raise awareness and preserve Thangka, and the festival aims to systematize resources and promote the art.
"I'm here on vacation. I've always intrigued by the unique culture of Tibet and being here at the exhibition is really great!" said a visitor.
"It's really a privilege to attend this festival. I'm stunned by the exquisite Thangka artworks here. And I hope this festival can become better and better," said another visitor.
A Thangka painting can be as small as the palm of your hand, or large enough that a mountain is needed to fully showcase it. The world's largest one is 120 meters long and 85 meters wide. It took 10 masters more than nine years to complete it.
This year's event runs till October 10th in Lhasa.
