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maltatoday | SUNDAY • 12 SEPTEMBER 2021 4 ART The awakening of Tibetan Thangka art ON the 24th of August, the Chi- na Cultural Centre in Malta in collaboration with the Cultural Department of the Tibet Au- tonomous Region launched an exhibition of Tibetan Thangka art prints entitled China's Tibet, Tashi Delek. Tibet is known as the roof of the world because it is the highest plateau found on earth, with landscapes that are amplified with incredible nat- ural scenery of mountains and turquoise lakes. However it is not just the geographical beau- ty that enthrals millions to visit every year but also the immense spirituality that is felt amongst the warm people of Tibet. Their spiritual devotion sometimes also takes the physical form of Thangka art, one of the great arts of Asia. Thangka roughly translates to recorded message in Tibetan, and refers to scroll paintings crafted on silk or cotton fab- ric depicting religious icons and deities like a Buddha or bodhisattva. Thangka art is in- tended to be used as a tool to understand Buddhist teach- ings, for personal meditation, or to guide others on their path of enlightenment. They are be- lieved to house the spirits of their deities if painted follow- ing the correct rules of colour and iconometry, which is an old tradition whereby a system of bodily measurements and proportions are used to create specific outlines of each figure. Whilst such rules are fixed, Thangka painters can find more creative freedom when designing the landscape and decorative elements adorn- ing the deities. Acquiring the consummate skill of such an art requires a minimum of six years studying the painting techniques, Thangka literature, Buddhist philosophy and histo- ry before their work is deemed acceptable to Buddhist stand- ards. Traditionally, the ma- terials that Thangka painters and patrons lavish upon their sacred artwork are sourced and handmade from natural min- eral pigment, earth pigment and plant dye. This is because Thangka painters seek and find the best colour in nature that vividly captures the di- vine buddhas. These brilliantly coloured paintings of elabo- rate scenes have one or often multiple artists working on the same painting delivering Bud- dhist doctrine to the canvas. In fact, Thangka are often not even signed which shows the selflessness of the artist or art- ists who instead write a mantra or sacred verse. China's Tibet, Tashi Delek Thangka Art exhi- bition features twenty prints of Thankga art covering different schools of Thangka art, such as the Qi Wu Gang School and the Mian Tang School. The Thang- ka art is embedded with rich iconography, religious motifs and symbolism. Extracting all these intricacies and meanings require training, however the China Cultural Centre in Mal- ta encourages visitors to look closely and identify a few with- in the art. A few of the com- mon motifs are the lotus flower which symbolises spiritual pu- rity; the victory banner which represents Buddha's triumph over hindering forces; the gold treasure vase that is never emp- ty and represents abundance and the endless knot that holds the meaning of longevity and harmony. Thangka art is not merely a painting of aesthetic value but is part of the practiced reli- gion of Buddhism and an em- blem of the unique Tibetan culture. This is evident in the final step of creating Thangka art which is the consecration ritual. Monks pray and invoke the spiritual deities depicted to inhabit the painted figures and breathe life into them. Art collectors and passing tourists may view them as paintings but to Tibetans, they are buddhas themselves. To visit China's Tibet, Tashi Delek Thangka Art Exhibition, patrons must simply book their time slot through a form found on the China Cultural Cen- tre in Malta Facebook Page or send an email to maltaccc@ gmail.com for more informa- tion. The exhibition is open on Wednesdays and Fridays at the China Cultural Centre and will continue to run until the 6th of October. Please be advised that patrons must present their vac- cine certificate upon entering or proof of a negative Covid-19 PCR test taken within 48 hours prior to their booking.