In Tibet, innovative thangka designs emerge

According to Migyur, a thangka artist, eight artists have been working on a new thangka paintings since May. They are expected to conclude the work by September, when the works will be collected by the Shanghai Museum.

Migyur is an apprentice of Shilog, an intangible cultural inheritor of the influential Mansar thangka painting style. He began to learn thangka painting at age 17, working with Shilog. Together, in 2019, they began to make innovations, including a super long thangka painting.

With a length of 848 meters and width of 2.5 meters, the painting reflects the history, folk culture and construction achievements of Shigatse. Four painting teams with a total of 80 artists, along with thangka apprentices have been working on it, completing 298 meters so far.

"Our teachers often stress innovation and market prospects in traditional thangka painting culture," the 33-year-old Migyur was quoted as saying by Tibet Daily. "We were opposed by others at first as they thought we were not following traditional rules, but as time goes on, our works have been acknowledged by both locals and tourists. I think this is how to make traditional culture come alive in new era."