CRAFT CLUSTER: THANGKA APPLIQUE
Mcleod Ganj, Dharamshala
The Silk Mosaic
ARTISAN PROFILE
Rinchen Tsering
(27/11/1986 -present)
Head of 'Tibetan tailoring training centre',
Mcleod Ganj, Himachal Pradesh
176219
A Tibetan refugee fleeing China, found his calling as a Thangka applique craftsman in India. Rejected from Norbulingka institute in the past, he persevered under a master (His holiness, Phuntsok Tsering), becoming a respected teacher himself. Driven by his faith and a desire to preserve culture, he creates intricate Thangkas, even a record-breaking 80-foot piece for a Taiwan Monastery. Despite his talent, he gives back to the community, living modestly while passing on his knowledge.
''A true believer of worship and prayer towards his holiness, and regularly performs rituals before starting the day, as paying tribute to a sacred art form, he believes that perfection can only be achieved when one has a pure heart and a devotional soul."
THE ROOTS
Thangka, the word itself means drawing on a flat surface. However, for the Tibetans, its not just a form of art that means expression of one self, it means expressing love and devotion to all of their gods, in their most beloved and magnificent forms.
Forms through which they can evoke emotions and only positive vibes, just by the look of it. It is not just the gameplay of colours and skills of one’s
hands, it is a deep art form that is entangled romantically with scriptures and its spirituality. And these Thangka paintings are given an entirely new, elevated look when they are applied on cloth, when they become Thangka applique.
The Sacred Process:
Based on religious scriptures, creating Thangkas involves meditation and prayer.
Artisans cleanse their minds and bless the workspace before starting.
The applique process begins with symbolizing mind, body, and soul, aiming to breathe life into the artwork.
A Rare and Enduring Art:
Unlike common art, Thangka appliques are scarce and highly valued.
The natural materials used ensure their longevity, reflecting the desire for a lasting expression of faith.
SYMBOLISM
Thangka appliques go beyond beautiful fabrics. Each element holds a deeper meaning:
- Deities & Clouds: Gods emerging from clouds represent their various manifestations: .
- Eagle Eyes: Sharp eyes symbolize the deity's wisdom and focus.
- Fish Lips: Plump lips, inspired by fish, signify kind and wise speech.
- Colorful Crowns: Circles represent the deity's different manifestations.
- Spheres & Jewels: Colorful spheres with "norbu" jewels depict the deity's aura and enlightenment.
- Offerings: Seven offerings at the bottom, like mirrors and flowers, appease the deity.
These elements, steeped in history and scripture, make Thangka appliques a unique art form.
The Colours of the craft are the vibrant feature of the craft but that’s not the only reason they’re used for. Every colour is associated with a god;
Rigna a traditional attire worn by men during festive season uses 5 major colours: Red, Blue, Yellow, White, Green.
They represent different dieties like Manjushree, White Tara, Green Tara, Avalokiteshwara, Shakyamuni.
The Tibetan flags also follow the same colour palette which represent fire, water, space, earth, air the five elements of nature.
TOOLS & TECHNIQUE
Tools:
Tracing paper, Scissors, Compass, Needles (various sizes), Adhesive, Heating tool, Chalk powder, Finger protection (leather)
Raw Materials:
Horse tail hair (piping borders), Silk threads (sewing, piping), Silk fabrics (solid, embroidered, gold-polished), Poplin (backing for silk fabric)
Process (summarized):
Prayer: Ritual for a clear mind and a sacred artwork.
Drawing: Design based on scriptures, traced onto fabric.
Piping: Horsehair base wrapped with silk thread.
Stitching Piping: Piping sewn onto fabric following design.
Trimming: Excess fabric around piping cut away.
Joining Elements: Small pieces assembled into larger sections.
Joining Thangka: Sections stitched together with glue.
Framing: Silk brocade fabric added as border.
Scrolling: Wooden rods with decorative stoppers attached.
Final Prayer: Blessing ceremony for the completed Thangka.
Challenges:
High cost of materials limits market.
Difficulty of preservation discourages young generation.
Future:
Growing awareness and tourism may increase popularity.
SCAMPER
Substitute:
Replace expensive silk with cheaper materials (linen) for wider audience.
Use Thangka applique for decorative items (clothing, home decor)
Combine:
Thangka applique with fashion design for clothing collections.
Artisans' skills applied to mural painting.
Adapt:
Raise public awareness through workshops and demonstrations.
Use similar strategies as NAMDAS carpet revival (reduced rarity, teaching).
Modify:
Modernize processes while maintaining tradition.
Highlight the rarity and craftsmanship for increased value.
Create larger Thangka pieces for easier viewing.
Put to Other Uses:
Apply Thangka techniques to home decor (curtains, cushions).
Adapt Thangka designs for secular uses.
Eliminate:
Offer smaller, more affordable Thangka pieces.
Use alternative materials to reduce costs.
Relax some motif restrictions for wider appeal.
Rearrange/Reverse:
Change the order of process steps for efficiency.
Create Thangka negatives (light on dark background).
Team:
Abhijeet C Ajit
Abhijeet C Ajit
Amisha Kumari
Harneet Singh
Shiny RP
Veera Deep
Yasaswi
Yasaswi
