China News Service Lhasa, February 25 Title: Tibetan Female Painter Paints With One Hand: Thangka Changed My Life
China News Service reporter Ran Wenjuan
In a watercolor painting called "Strong", the Tibetan female painter Yongzhong Dolma paints the right hand of the figure in the painting as a tree, with thick branches sticking into the sky. This kind of creative inspiration is actually a portrayal of the painter's heart. "I 'alienate' my hand into a tree, which is a metaphor for a tenacious vitality."
A solo exhibition of Tibetan female painter Yongzhong Dolma opened in Lhasa. Photo by Ran Wenjuan
The painting is currently on display at Yongzhong Dolma's solo exhibition in Lhasa, her first solo exhibition since she embarked on her artistic work. Somewhat peculiarly, these paintings were created by Yongzhong Dolma with her only left hand, and she is one of the few female thangka artists in Lhasa.
Yongzhong Dolma was born in the Ruoerge Grassland in Sichuan Province, and it seems to be her nature to love painting. She also remembered that her grandfather's house enshrined several thangkas, and she was deeply attracted by the soft and smooth lines and rich colors on the thangkas. When she was a child, she often used her pocket money to buy materials to scribble and paint, and the childish brush strokes of brushstrokes were the best times of her childhood.
Due to an accident, Yongzhong Dolma lost her right hand at the age of ten, and while still in her hospital bed, she picked up a paintbrush with her left hand. "My daily life, including painting, is done with my left hand, and painting has brought my life back to color." Since then, painting has not only been a hobby for Yongzhong Dolma, but also a kind of comfort and hope.
After graduating from the Sichuan Academy of Fine Arts in 2014, Yongzhong Dolma came to Lhasa alone to study Thangka out of love for thangka art. This lasted seven years.
The time of study is monotonous and fulfilling. Every Monday through Friday, she goes to school at nine o'clock in the morning and leaves class at seven o'clock in the evening, immersing herself in painting all day. On weekends, she often went to cafes with her notebook and continued to paint watercolors, sometimes five or six times a day. "I don't feel bored at all, even if I'm at home for a week and keep painting, I can enjoy it."
The audience views the works in the exhibition. Photo by Ran Wenjuan
Abundant artistic nourishment is also accompanied by a daily life of hardship. In the first few years of his arrival in Lhasa, Yongzhong Dolma saved everywhere, using his rest time to complete some oil painting orders to meet his daily expenses. "Although life is relatively poor, I have always been very relaxed and have not deliberately insisted. The whole process was a joy. ”
After four years of systematic study of thangkas, Yongzhong Dolma set out to create her graduating thangkas. When it took nearly three years to finally finish the graduation work, Yongzhong Dolma looked at his work from a distance and burst into tears. "At that moment, I felt that all the effort was worth it."
"Painting has changed my life, it's almost as important as air." Yongzhong Dolma said that because of the amputation, he had been closed and sensitive for a long time and lacked self-confidence. In her creation, she uses the brush to release her inner confusion and fear, and express her experience and perception of life. "Gradually, I found myself unconsciously becoming independent and becoming more and more confident. Looking back, I really appreciate the painting. ”
In Lhasa, there are still a few women engaged in thangka painting, but Yongzhong Dolma said that he has never been restricted by gender. "Now everyone is very supportive and respectful of women engaged in thangka creation, this platform and opportunities are open, and women have every opportunity to chase their artistic dreams." She also said that as a woman, do not set limits on yourself, but dare to chase your dreams and realize the value of your life. (End)