Tibetan Tangkas dazzle Beijing

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Source: CCTV.com | 02-11-2009 10:19

Tangka, or Tibetan Buddhist story painting, is a fascinating element of Tibet autonomous region's culture. At an ongoing exhibition of national heritage items at the Beijing Agricultural Exhibition Hall, visitors can see how the exquisite art is made.

At an ongoing exhibition of national heritage  items at the Beijing Agricultural Exhibition  Hall, visitors can see how the exquisite art  is made.

Tangka dazzles viewers with its bright colors and exquisite delineation. Folk artist Xi Hedao is drawing gold lines, a demanding skill in Tangka painting. The gold lines can bestow the figure with a glamorous glow.

Tangka features strict composition and elaborate depiction. Some pieces are colored while others are painted with black lines. Another artist Niang Ben is displaying this skill.

The artists are demonstrating how to paint a Tangka at the national heritage exhibition. Viewers can learn about the pigments, skills, and themes of the paintings. The ingredients and proportion of the pigments are secret, and the uniquely created pigment guarantees Tangka retains its bright colors, even after a thousand years.