Thangka institute preserves soul of cultural heritage

The Xizang Thangka Painting Institute is working to preserve the Tibetan thangka art and training more artists in the new era.

Since its establishment in 2021 in Lhasa, Xizang autonomous region, the institute has combined teaching, exhibitions and research to make the ancient art shine.

Konchok Kyab, vice-dean of the institute and a thangka master, said the institute now holds a national-level intangible culture heritage item: the Mansar School of Tibetan thangka art.

It also holds two region-level intangible culture heritage items — traditional Tibetan brush-making and mural-painting techniques, he said.

"Thangka paintings, known for their religious, historical, medical and natural themes, require painters to have a deep understanding of measurements and a mastery of body proportions," he said, adding that the rigorous process involved in creating a thangka includes sketching, coloring, outlining, applying gold, detailing facial features and refining intricate details to bring the artwork to life.