Darshan Tamang

Authentic Thangka Paintings From Northern Nepal

Thangka, or pauva, paintings are not only an exquisite art form from the Himalayan region, but also serve as teaching tools of Buddhist philosophy and the principles embodied by Buddha, Bodhisattvas, Rimpoches, and other deities. Darshan Tamang began drawing at the age of seven while living in a monastery in Rasuwa, Nepal. His commitment to both visual aesthetics and Buddhism led him to earn a Master of Arts in Buddhist Philosophy from the Lekshey Ling Institute. His thangka paintings vividly interpret the Buddhist philosophies of the Vajrayana tradition.

Traditional thangka paintings are created on cotton cloth stretched across a wooden frame. A mixture of glue and white clay is applied to the fabric until the canvas is smooth. The artist then sketches their design before applying water-based colors and occasionally gold and silver dust. Thangka paintings typically use five basic colors: red, blue, yellow, black, and white. As thangka paintings have gained popularity, the market has seen an influx of screen-printed thangkas. Darshan’s practice remains authentically traditional, not only in his painting techniques and use of silk and cotton fabrics, but also in his deep knowledge of Buddhist philosophy.