Tibet has captured the Western imagination for the last four hundred years. Old Tibet was considered an oasis of peace, harmony and longevity, ruled by wisdom and spirituality. The continution of this mythos has clouded the true picture of Tibet. Tibetans in exile may have benefited from this mythos but at the same time have been politically and culturally stifled.
Both Tibetans and Western intellectuals call for the immediate demystification in order to clear the view of the current reality of
Tibet.
The Tibetan artist Loten Namling strives to open new paths. "The Five Tibetans" is the title of an exibition of contemporary Tibetan art designed to bring a breath of fresh air to outdated concepts of Tibet. Namling deliberatly chose this title in order to shatter stereotypical Western notions of Tibet.
"The Five Tibetans" exercise pamphlets are an excellent example of Western projections of a Tibet that never was. Namling has brought five real Tibetans, all of them contemporary artists, together for this exibition.
The artists Gonkar Gyatso, Losang Gyatso, Kesang Lamdark, Tenzing Nodup and Loten Namling himself are all well versed in both Western and Tibetan artistic traditions. This exibtion marks the first time that Tibetan contemporary art has been shown in Switzerland. It offers an exciting insight into an art scene which is as yet relatively unknown in the West.
A challenge to all those whose concept of Tibetan art is limited to Buddha statues and thankas. Curator Namling’s concept goes beyond merely shaking up Western mindsets. He seeks to create a dialog with contemporary Chinese artists. This is made strikingly visible because the exibtion is located directly next to the Berne City Art Museum which is currently hosting the largest show of modern Chinese art in Switzerland. The uneasy relationship with China is a central theme in Tibetan art as Jamyang Norbu writes in the exibition guide, "The Tractor in the Lotus Field". Artist Namling’s dream is to create something which has been impossible on the political level for decades, namely a genuine dialog with the Chinese.
Namling’s final wish is to send a message to future generations of Tibetans, encouraging them to use art as a mode of cultural survival.
The exhibition runs from 26th June 2005 until 16th July 2005
Gallery ARTRAKTION
Hodlerstr. 16
3011 Bern, Switzerland
www.loten.ch
www.artraktion.ch
