Tibet

Gyatso, My Identity Series

Gonkar Gyatso

Contemporary Tibetan Artist

Chöying Dorje (1604–1674 

10th Karmapa, or head of Kagyu school of Tibetan Buddhism.

Dorje was a talented painter and sculptor already at a young age. Many of the statues made by the Tenth Karmapa – regardless whether cast in metal or carved in ivory, wood, or conch shell, etc. – are stylistically very close to brass statues from Kashmir and Swat. This is because the artist was heavily influenced by Indian statues from Kashmir.

While being inspired by Indian art, he created his own work of art – albeit using ancient stylistic elements. His activities as a painter were evidently influenced by the Chinese tradition, which also explains why Chöying Dorje painted many works on silk. Chinese influence in the works of Chöying Dorje has its origin in arhat paintings that he had seen in Tibet and copied several times.