Tibetan modern artists

September 7, 2008 12:20 AM

Contemporary Tibetan artists incorporating traditional themes: Gonkar Gyatso l l Karma Phuntsok l Yungchen Lhamo [scroll down for video] l P. N. Dhumkhang l Losang Gyatso l Angsang

Contemporary Art in Lhasa, Tibet

The Sweet Tea House - Contemporary Tibetan Art Gallery, founded by Gonkar Gyatso

A Tibetan modern artist, renegade of the 1940's and 50's, Gendun Choepel, "The Angry Monk"

posted by nickyskye (13 comments total)

Gorgeous works, and informative as well. Thanks, nickyskye!
posted by amyms at 2:09 AM on September 7, 2008

Great post, thanks. The calligraphy is gorgeous, and I always love pieces like My Identity. And The Angry Monk looks fascinating (but Netflix doesn't have it, dammit). Neat window onto Tibetan culture, nicky. Thanks again.
posted by mediareport at 6:34 AM on September 7, 2008

Thanks very much. Finding something like this once every couple of months is the whole reason I come to metafilter.
posted by greasepig at 7:22 AM on September 7, 2008

This is wonderful. I've been thinking about Tibetan art a lot lately, it seems you read my mind!
posted by grapefruitmoon at 8:25 AM on September 7, 2008

Thanks nickyskye! I fell in love with Buddhist frescos in Ladakh, and it's really great to see those breathtaking motifs in a contemporary context.
posted by DLWM at 9:42 AM on September 7, 2008

Wow. Love Gonkar Gyatso's stuff particularly. How come every time an FPP blows my mind, it's you posting, Nicky? :)
posted by digaman at 10:27 AM on September 7, 2008

Fascinating find, nickyskye
posted by Cranberry at 10:48 AM on September 7, 2008

Great post. Thanks, nickyskye.

Related post.
posted by homunculus at 1:42 PM on September 7, 2008

Prayers at an Exhibition: Bhutan’s Art and the Monks Who Protect It
posted by homunculus at 1:43 PM on September 7, 2008

Oh YAY, how nice of you guys to be so positive about this post. *happy sigh

To be honest, it wouldn't surprise me if homunculus, The Link Master, hadn't linked every one of these artists on the blue several times, eithre as a post or in a thread. (I wrote that sentence hours ago). And now you've commented dear homunculus I'm surprised you hadn't linked those specific -phew- (but definitely related) sites.

What excites me is seeing Tibetans discover culture in the modern world, either in India, Oz, China, the West, Japan, wherever. They were basically cut off from outside contact culturally, for a thousand or so years. I can imagine that it must be spectacularly exciting for those Tibetans, who are creatively inclined or have a need to express themselves in art of any kind, to see all kinds of art of other cultures, old and new. On the one hand their old culture has been pedestalized by the West, which might initially have prevented Tibetans from artistically evolving. I find Gonkar Gyatso's work especially stimulating and beautiful.
posted by nickyskye at 2:39 PM on September 7, 2008 [1 favorite has favorites]

I'm surprised you hadn't linked those specific -phew- (but definitely related) sites.

Well, I'm actually rather lazy.
posted by homunculus at 3:44 PM on September 7, 2008

Well, I'm actually rather lazy.

Not. :)
posted by nickyskye at 3:52 PM on September 7, 2008

BBtv World: Ancient hermit monk caves of Drak Yerpa
posted by homunculus at 11:57 AM on September 9, 2008