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Collection of thangka now on view
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A RARE collection of authentic Tibetan thangka paintings are now on display at an exhibition that runs through June 24 in Zhujiaojiao, a watertown in Qingpu District.
Thangka paintings are believed to have originated in the 8th century AD. Derived from the Tibetan words “thang” (meaning “flat”) and “ka” (meaning “painting”), these elaborately painted works are often hung in monasteries and behind family altars. They are also carried by lamas during ceremonial observations.
Thangka creators work with natural dyes as well as applique techniques that involve attaching pieces of cut silk to cloth. Often these works depict Buddhist deities and other religious images. The skills that go into the thangka craft have traditionally been passed from fathers to their children or from masters to apprentices, with special attention paid to aspects such as figure drawing, coloring and pattern design. Many ancient thangka have aged well, thanks to the use of mineral paints, which resists fading and erosion.
Organized by the Qinsen Group, all of the thangka at the exhibition are on loan from a private collector.
“In the past, thangka were quite mysterious to many people,” said Wang Yan, one of the exhibition’s organizers. “But last November, billionaire Liu Yiqian bought a thangka for HK$348 million (US$44.8 million), setting a new record for a Chinese work of art sold by an international auction house. More and more people are now seeing the value of thangka.”
According to Liu, many thangka viewers say they can feel the reverence of their painters. “It is said that when one has Buddha in his heart, he can put technique aside and paint what Buddha tells him,” he explains.
Date: Through June 24,
10am-4pm
Address: 50 Zhuhu Rd,
Zhujiajiao Town, Qingpu District
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