An Evening with Artist Tsherin Sherpa

For almost a thousand years, Tibetan artists have created visionary paintings for the practice of Vajrayana, or Lightning Vehicle, Buddhism. In this program, thangka master Tsherin Sherpa discusses the theory and practice of Himalayan art in the contemporary world. With the Tibetan diaspora that began in the 1950s, Himalayan artists began to grapple with subjects, themes and situations that challenged not merely artistic practice, but the millennium-old Buddhist ethos of Tibet. Together, we will discover how a meditative art tradition engages with issues of cultural hybridity and commercialization.

Born in Kathmandu, Nepal, in 1968, Tsherin Sherpa currently works and resides between California, the United States and Nepal. From the age of 12, he studied traditional Tibetan thangka painting with his father Master Urgen Dorje. In 1998, Sherpa immigrated to California, where he taught traditional thangka painting andbegan to explore his own style, which reimagines tantric motifs, symbols, colors and gestures in contemporary compositions. His work investigates his personal diasporic experiences and the collision of sacred and secular culture.

The Asian Art Museum is committed to making its events accessible to all. This event is wheelchair accessible and assistive listening devices (ALDs) will be provided. ASL interpretation available upon request; please email [email protected] two weeks prior to the event to request an interpreter.