Here's a note from one of the merchants in the village. It stands as an example of the situation we are all going through:
Many of our friends and customers have been wondering how we've done with the recent earthquakes. We've done quite well compared to how it could have turned out for us. The good news is that no one from the school died in the disaster and only two villagers died. One artist sustained two broken legs and is still in the hospital. We actually had two partners in the village giving us 3 small shops here in Changunarayan Village. We lost two shops but managed to save some inventory.
Most of the artists went home to take care of their families in the villages. It's so important to keep Nepali working.
Thanka is a painting on cotton, or silk appliqué, usually depicting a Buddhist deity, scene, or mandala of some sort. The thangka is not a flat creation like an oil painting or acrylic painting but consists of a picture panel which is painted or embroidered over which a textile is mounted and then over which is laid a cover, usually silk. Generally, thangkas last a very long time and retain much of their luster, but because of their delicate nature, they have to be kept in dry places where moisture will not affect the quality of the silk. It is sometimes called a scroll-painting.
Many of our friends and customers have been wondering how we've done with the recent earthquakes. We've done quite well compared to how it could have turned out for us. The good news is that no one from the school died in the disaster and only two villagers died. One artist sustained two broken legs and is still in the hospital. We actually had two partners in the village giving us 3 small shops here in Changunarayan Village. We lost two shops but managed to save some inventory.
Thanka is a painting on cotton, or silk appliqué, usually depicting a Buddhist deity, scene, or mandala of some sort. The thangka is not a flat creation like an oil painting or acrylic painting but consists of a picture panel which is painted or embroidered over which a textile is mounted and then over which is laid a cover, usually silk. Generally, thangkas last a very long time and retain much of their luster, but because of their delicate nature, they have to be kept in dry places where moisture will not affect the quality of the silk. It is sometimes called a scroll-painting.
Thanka, when created properly, perform several different
functions. Images of deities can be used as teaching tools when depicting the
life (or lives) of the Buddha, describing historical events concerning
important Lamas, or retelling myths associated with other deities. Devotional
images act as the centerpiece during a ritual or ceremony and are often used as
mediums through which one can offer prayers or make requests. Overall, and
perhaps most importantly, religious art is used as a meditation tool to help
bring one further down the path to enlightenment.
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