Are Buddhist figures and iconography still important to most contemporary Tibetan art?
Yes, for most Tibetan artists. But Pema Rinzin has gone to the abstract direction. Dedron and Norbu tackles everyday Tibetan culture and folklore, while Tenzin and Sherpa deal with the experience of the Tibetan expatriate community. The symbolism and iconography you see in their contemporary art and in traditional paintings represent the elite Tibetan culture. But Tibetan culture is inevitably linked to the religion and the political context. These artists are not overtly political, but they do more or less touch upon it. It’s more about how the culture and religion are preserved. This sense of cultural responsibility is lost in the younger generations. Many Tibetan artists are traditionally trained — it’s natural for them to use these religious images that comprise part of their visual vocabulary. Also, in this art market, they are able to create their identity by incorporating these motifs and visual elements. What is their attitude toward pop culture and contemporary art outside of
