by Tsetan
Kathmandu December 14 – Nepal based young Tibetan modern artist Chungpo Tsering is perhaps one of the few Tibetan youngsters who pursue a career in modern art and who has an art gallery of his own. His latest exhibition of paintings was opened in Boudha Nath.
The exhibition which opened on 10th December, Nobel Peace Prize Day Celebration, will remain open till January 10. 15 oil paintings from his latest work are on display at his gallery, Stupa Art Gallery. His paintings are unique in that they are very much modern but yet traditional. “He has mixed modern art very well with traditional Tibetan art, and I think this is not something which is easy”, says an art lover who is very much impressed by the works of a young Tibetan.
“Although my paintings are modern there is a Tibetan touch in all of them”, says Chungpo as he explains his work to a group of foreigners.
“Thangka is the traditional Tibetan art system and has its own place in the world of art, but there are a few Tibetans exploring their skills in modern art and blending the Tibetan style with today’s art.”
Tibetan people’s understanding of the modern art as compared to the “injis is at its infancy”, laments Chungpo.
“Tibetans visiting my gallery are happy to see a Tibetan doing modern art but they don’t have much idea about the art due to which they don’t appreciate my work as much as the ‘injis’ do”, chuckles Chungpo.
Chungpo did his schooling from TCV school, Dharamshala. After finishing a designing course in 1995, he came to Nepal in search of a job. He worked as carpet designer first. After realizing his passion for fine arts, he quit his job and plunged into fine arts by learning the basics and interacting with different artists.
The year 2000 saw his first exhibition of modern paintings called “Fine Tibetan Contemporary Paintings” in Honkong which established him as an artist. More painting exhibitions soon followed. And there is no looking back now for this young artist who will hold his next exhibition in San Francisco in February, 2006.
Chungpo believes, “behind every successful artist, there is a dream.” And his dream is to open a school of modern art for Tibetan children.
Meanwhile, another exhibition of modern art was inaugurated in Dharamshala by Kalon Tripa Samdhong Rinpoche on the same day. Tenzin Jamyang who earlier held an exhibition of his paintings at India International Centre in New Delhi, is joined in this group exhibition by artists like Namgyal, Tenam, Migmar Wangdue and Tsering Gonpo at the Tibet Museum.
