Submitted by sdargyay@tibetnet.ernet.in (TibetNet Project)

An Exhibition of Contemporary Tibetan Art by Gonkar Gyatso 12-14 September at India International Centre, New Delhi

NEW DELHI, 14 Sep. 1996: A three day exhibition of contemporary Tibetan art by Gonkar Gyatso concluded at the India International Centre, New Delhi on the 14th. The exhibition entitled, "Footprints of Buddha" is a deeply personal and a visionary interpretation of Tibetan Buddhist ideas. On display in this exhibition are a series of over 20 abstract paintings in acrylics on canvas depicting Tibetan Buddhist ideas of consciousness, death and enlightenment.

In this first exhibition outside of Tibet and China since his escape into exile in 1992, the artist provides a wonderfully original and refereshing look at Tibetan Buddhist ideas. All his paintings are dark with subtle white lights which seem to convey a sense of deep space. In "Prayer" and "Buddha on Prayer Flags", his bountiful use of Tibetan script in the backgrounds lends an interesting textural pattern. Although contemporary, Gyatso draws heavily from Tibetan Buddhist imageries.

Gonkar Gyatso was born in Lhasa 1961. He had his formal education in art in Beijing. He currently lives in Dharamsala.

The just concluded exhibition was well recieved by many of the capital's artists, art critics and intellectuals who attended it. The British Council Division Library and the American Centre Library in New Delhi have offered to mount the current exhibition at their respective libaries. Offers were also made by the Managing Director of Hotel Croporation of India Limited, who run the Centuar Hotel chains to commission a painting by Gyatso at Centuar Hotel in Bombay.