Inspired by their close relationship with nature and their gods, and by the extraordinary scenery of their country. Bhutanese craftsmen have preserved the ancient skills of their ancestors through work in bronze, iron, silver, clay and wood.
The development of a high order of Buddhist arts and crafts in Bhutan may be traced to the great 15th century terton Pema Lingpa, who was an accomplished painter, sculptor and architect. The country's artistic tradition received a further boost when, in 1680, under instructions from the Shabdrung (himself and artist), Desi Tenzin Rabgye opened the School of Bhutanese Arts and Crafts.
Traditional Bhutanese artistry is maintained through the support of levels of society. The royal family, nobility and clergy have provided continued zealous patronage. Meanwhile, the common people support the arts because they depend on artisans to provide the wide variety of wooden and metal objects indispensable to typical Bhutanese households.
Bhutanese art has two main characteristics: it is religious and anonymous. The Bhutanese consider commissioning paintings and status as pious acts, which gain merit for the jinda (patron). The name of the jinda is sometimes written on the work so that their pious act may be remembered. Often the artist is a religious man who also gains merit from creating the work. However, the artist's name is almost never mentioned.
Because the iconographical conventions in Bhutanese art are very strict, the first responsibility of the Bhutanese artist is to observe them scrupulously. However, artists can also express their own personality in minor details or scenes.
Monks or laymen who work in special workshops execute paintings and sculptures. The disciples of a master do all the preliminary work, while the master himself executes the fine work.
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