The Tibetan Cultural Center, 3655 Snoddy Road, Bloomington, Indiana, hosted an exhibit of photos and of Tibetan thangkas at the TCC daily from Saturday, September 8 through Saturday, September 29 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

In addition, on Saturday, September 8 from 1 to 4 p.m. and on Sunday, September 9 from 2 to 4 p.m. (following our Sunday Meditation), Ven. Tenpa Tsering and Ven. Tenzin Jamyang, resident monks at the TCC, demonstrated the art of thangka painting. They explained to interested viewers the various steps to be followed in the creation of this type of religious are and also demonstrated the techniques they use in creating the thangkas.

Both the exhibit and the demonstrations were free and open to the public. Donations to defray expenses were welcome.

Ven. Tenpa Tsering painting a thangka

The thangka is a traditional Tibetan form of religious art which cover a wide range of subject matters. Although always religious in nature, some thangkas depict the social history and customs and habits of Tibet. Others illustrate the Tibetan calendar, astronomy, and Tibetan traditional medicine and pharmacology. Biographical thangkas describe the major events in the life of religious figures and historical personages. Most thangkas are scroll paintings usually framed in a rich colorful silk brocade and have a thin silk veil covering the front surface. They are distinctively Tibetan, highly religious, and possess a unique art style of their own. Tibetans have always considered the thangkha as treasure of tremendous value. The thangkas that the Tibetan Cultural Center will exhibit feature buddhas, bodhisattvas, and great teachers of India and Tibet.

If interest demands, the monks will provide classes in the future to the public at the TCC in Tibetan art, including thangka painting.

Ven. Tenpa Tsering and one of the thangkas he has painted. The beautiful detail of this thangka cannot be seen in such a small image. To see a slightly larger image, plus some details of the thangka, click HERE, but be warned that the larger image will take time to load, and of course it still doesn't do justice to the detail in the original.