Materials in Gonkar Gyatso’s work: continuity and contrast with the Tibetan painting tradition

Abstract

This article examines the work of London based Gonkar Gyatso, one of the key figures of contemporary Tibetan art. The artist blends Buddhist iconography with modern materials emblematic of global pop culture in very idiosyncratic works. Using material culture as a discourse, this paper assesses Gyatso’s works of art from diverse perspectives based on visual observations and available audiovisual material. It considers how the materiality of the artworks is integral to their meaning, and suggests various directions of research for their future conservation.

Keywords:

• Tibet
• contemporary artists
• Buddha image
• traditional thangka technique
• modern materials
• material culture
• conservation