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Tibetan Art: Tradition and Transition p r o f o u n d art object that depicts Buddhist deities o r historical figures in T i b e t a n B u d d h i s t t e a c h i n g s . T h e artist brings the rich, c o m p l e x world visual arts by Ilona Belks s i x o r s e v e n p e o p l e have m a d e in d a y s . T h e y j u s t d o it r e a l l y f a s t a n d s e l l it." D a w a ' s T h a n g k a s t a k e a t l e a s t t w o to three months to complete. ofTibet's spiritual vision into a f o r m a d a p t e d t o o u r earthly ability for A n d e a c h o n e is f r e s h , d y n a m i c , a n d original. N o t w o Thangkas are ever the same. D a w a s h o w s m e his T h a n g k a 1000 arm Avalokiteshvara. " A lot of visualization and conceptualization. Normally 16" x 24", they are tradi- t i o n a l l y h u n g in t e m p l e s o r o v e r a n altar w i t h i n t h e h o m e a n d are an integral c o m p o n e n t of religious pract i c e - as w e l l as b e i n g t h e m a j o r of Tibetan art. born--or form p e o p l e have n e v e r s e e n this r i c h n e s s . " T h e T h a n g k a b e f o r e m e is o f a deity with 16 h e a d s a n d 1 , 0 0 0 a r m s , w i t h a n e y e in e a c h o n e . W o r d s c a n n o t d o justice t o this intricate w o r k . I a m s p e l l b o u n d by the g e n t l e radiance Kelsang D a w a was rather " r e b o r n " -- t o be a T h a n g k a painting painter. His passion for o f a m a s t e r p i e c e t h a t s h i m m e r s in m o n o c h r o m a t i c shades w i t h g o l d a n d silver. K e l s a n g D a w a is a t r a d i t i o n a l T i b e t a n a r t i s t o f a n e w age in a n e w c o u n t r y . H i s T h a n g k a s reflect his k a r m a as h e b l e n d s t h e k n o w l e d g e and teaching of the traditional with personal inspiration."I craft to oi "n H < T h a n g k a is r i v a l l e d o n l y b y h i s c o m m i t m e n t to p r e s e r v e the quality and highlighted integrity o f this living a r t f o r m . B o r n in C h i n e s e - o c c u p i e d T i b e t , w h e r e p u r s u i n g T i b e t a n a r t a n d B u d d h i s m is a d e a d l y v o c a t i o n , D a w a h a s , in t r u e Buddhist manner, turned obstacles a n d h a r d s h i p s i n t o l e s s o n s a n d g i f t s . "I have s o m e k a r m a , " he laughs w h i l e d e s c r i b i n g his e s c a p e -- a n a g o n i z i n g month-long journey on foot over Himalayas--into Nepal and T h a n g k a by Kelsang Photo by Beiks Dawa Ilona the want p r e s e r v e T i b e t a n a r t -- n o t just f o r T i b e t a n p e o p l e b u t as a to world art." contribution Northern Kelsang facets Dawa will demonstrate painting Building Lecture all the 5 K elsang D a w a sits c r o s s - l e g g e d on a handwoven Tibetan carpet. India. In D h a r a m s a l a , k a r m a d e l i v e r e d D a w a to Venerable Sangye Yeshe, a master Thangka artist appointed by of Thangka November Gallery in B e f o r e him are f o u r t y six small bowls reverberating vibrant imbued with mystical colours to 7 at the Ferry West Vancouver. 5,7 and video demon- luminescent days t h e D a l a i L a m a t o t e a c h his a r t a n d philosophy to a new generation T i b e t a n s in e x i l e . Y e s h e e n t r e a t e d of his November strations calligrapher & to 9 pm, onsite and Tibetan qualities. H e has s p e n t f o u r by Dawa Sonam b r i n g i n g e a c h c o l o u r t o life, p a t i e n t l y g r i n d i n g by h a n d : s t o n e s , l e a v e s , a n d insect scales into a pure powdery from Palden November 6 call students to preserve the integrity of T h a n g k a painting, a responsibility D a w a takes seriously. " F e w p e o p l e a r e d o i n g it c o r rectly," says D a w a . O n e o f t h e q u a l i t i e s o f t h e T h a n g k a is t h e ordinary a m o u n t of time and unique extra- 7, n o o n to 5 p m . For information 925-7266. pigment. " D o you k n o w that o n e rock, four c o l o u r s can c o m e ? " H i s e y e s s p a r k l e as he h a n d s me C i n n a b a r , w h i c h today will be transformed into a vermilion tint. bowls the cre- T h e s e " s t o n e c o l o u r " filled a r e D a w a ' s p a l e t t e , c r e a t e d in s a m e way sage T i b e t a n artists dedication required to complete of these extremely detailed w o r k s a r t . S a d l y , t h i s a r t f o r m is f a c i n g e x t i n c t i o n in T i b e t b e c a u s e o f ated their palettes over 2,000 years ago.Timeless, they are but one of the many timeless intricacies Kelsang P h o t o by Beiks Dawa Ilona Thangka painting. part of Chinese government oppression and d y i n g in e x i l e b e c a u s e o f c o m m e r c i a l ism and the quest for the quick buck. In T i b e t a n , " T h a n g k a " is a p a i n t i n g o n c l o t h s e t in a b r o c a d e s i l k o r t o n f r a m e . It is a b e a u t i f u l and cot- " A lot of W e s t e r n e r s say.'ah yes, I've s e e n T h a n g k a . ' B u t u s u a l l y t h e y have seen N e p a l e s e T h a n g k a . w h i c h