Artists
Chering Gyalpo Gurung
Inspired by my homeland of Dolpo, I work to preserve its traditions through my paintings. Blessed with spectacular geography and sacred, intricate traditions of textiles and jewellery, Dolpo is as affected by modernisation as any Indigenous culture. Without careful preservation, our way of life risks disappearing due to climate change and outward migration.
Our understanding of the precious Indigenous knowledge passed down from generation to generation will be irrevocably lost without the involvement and understanding of our youth.
I have always loved the textiles of my homeland, and these, along with the lapis, coral, and other minerals used in our jewellery, have inspired my art. I work to keep these precious traditions alive through my brush, not only on canvas but also on the unique, waterproof birch bark paper, or bhoj patra, of Dolpo. This material is deeply precious to our way of life and has historically been used for roofing, as plates, for writing books, and for many other purposes.
Selected Works
Migration
Before the gathering fades
Woven into memory I
