Thangka artist Niangben holds exhibition

Chinese Tibetan traditional thangka artist and cultural heritage inheritor Niangben continued his journey to promote and preserve Tibetan culture overseas with a special exhibition in New York.

Inheritance and Beyond (Sept 21-Oct 11) is on display at the Rockefeller State Park Preserve art gallery, where the thangka master brought 16 pieces of his artwork, featuring Tibetan Buddhism.

Niangben, 53, an artist from the Regong region of Huangnan Tibetan autonomous prefecture in southeastern Qinghai, is a prominent inheritor of thangka — an art form recognized as a national intangible cultural heritage, which was also recognized by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO).

Renowned for its distinct ethnic identity and artistic beauty, thangka has a history spanning hundreds of years and has become increasingly popular, particularly in Northwest China.

The painting of thangka is created with precious mineral pigments like gold, silver and cinnabar, along with natural dyes from plants such as saffron and gardenia, which can make the art last for decades.

"It's amazing to see how so many beautiful works have been preserved because artists used this type of mineral pigment. Take the murals at Dunhuang or in the Potala Palace, for example — they've stayed vibrant for hundreds of years without fading. That's really something unique about our Eastern murals," Niangben told China Daily.

Thangka paintings also use mineral pigments, allowing them to last for millennia and giving them immense collectible value. He explained that this use of natural pigments makes the art form hard to replace with today's digital painting.

Thangka art has strict requirements for color mixing, outlining and more. It not only requires the meticulous techniques of traditional Chinese painting but also demands the artist's skill in grinding pigments and controlling temperature and humidity, he said.

Niangben began learning thangka painting at age 12 and has dedicated more than 40 years to mastering the craft. As a renowned artist, he has trained hundreds of young thangka artists at the Qinghai Huangnan Regong Painting Institute, which he established to teach impoverished children thangka painting as a skill they can use to build a livelihood.

"It's my responsibility, and I hope this culture of China's Tibetan ethnic people can be preserved by more artists like me," he said. "Art knows no borders, and this painting technique is truly rare. We hope that thangka art can be appreciated and loved by more people in the US as well."

He said that bringing traditional thangka art overseas presents challenges, but his passion for sharing its beauty motivates him. He said he hopes that by showcasing thangka art, he can inspire more people to appreciate its unique allure and ultimately visit its place of origin, his hometown of Qinghai.

Members of the Rockefeller family support the exhibition. Steven Rockefeller has been promoting cultural exchanges in art between China and East Asia.

"The parallels of our dramatic natural landscapes can serve as symbolism to the harmony of all our best efforts in cultural exchange," said Rockefeller, host of the exhibition, at a reception on Sunday.

He said that the beauty and unique geography of Xizang are reminiscent of the Hudson Valley, where Niangben's art is being exhibited — a region whose landscape also has been shaped over millennia by tectonic shifts and glacial melt.

Cindy Ye, curator of the Thangka Artistry exhibition of World Tibetan Thangka Research and Preservation Foundation, curated Niangben's exhibition.

Lang Lang, a famous Chinese pianist and a thangka enthusiast who is also a friend of Niangben, performed at the reception. He told attendees that culture, art and music bring together people from diverse backgrounds.

"Niangben has offered his most elevating springboard to the divine of nature for the tens of thousands who will trek from its center out into the enchantment of our parks, lilies and moss," said Lily Li, organizer of the event.

"Bringing Niangben's art to New York is a monumental occasion. This city, a global hub of art and culture, provides the perfect platform to introduce thangka to an eager new audience," she said. "It underscores the importance of preserving such traditions in our rapidly globalizing world, fostering a culture of sharing that enriches us all.

"This exhibition is more than a display of artistic mastery. It is a celebration of a man whose life's work bridges the gap between ancient traditions and the modern world," Li said.

mingmeili@chinadailyusa.com