Traditional Tibetan painting combined with classic novel

Tibetan Thangka artists have recently completed a three year project portraying a story from the classic Chinese novel Romance of the Three Kingdoms. (Photo: CNTV)

Tibetan Thangka artists have recently completed a three year project portraying a story from the classic Chinese novel Romance of the Three Kingdoms. The presentation aims to revive both the traditional painting technique and this classic story.

These paintings work as a storyboard, with each one telling part of a story and working in tandem with one another. The 100 paintings were created using traditional Tibetan techniques, using only natural materials.

Painted on silk scrolls with pigments made from plant juice and minerals, these works include extremely vivid colours. And the unique Tibetan style intrigues many visitors.

"I think they're all visually stunning. And they show us a unique ethnic culture."

"I'm really astonished. They're absolutely fantastic. They are completely different from things I usually see in exhibitions. They use compelling colours and delicate techniques."

The paintings took more than 300 artists three years to complete. The Thangka style is a form of painting that was originally specifically for religious depictions. This is the first time Thangka artists have portrayed a classic Chinese story.

A Thangka artist said, "We usually portray Tibetan deities, which are often sitting or standing. But here we wanted to make a vivid portrayal of legendary heroes from the novel, so we needed to paint them riding a horse or fighting an enemy. So it's been a challenge for us."

Artists hope that this bold combination of two historic cultural heritages can give both of them a refreshing twist and attract modern viewers.