ngodup tsering, wood painting master
Like many Tibetans in exile diaspora, Ngodup Tsering’s parents fled from Tibet and were rehabilitated in one of the largest refugee Tibetan settlement in South India. As per the Govt. of India rehabilitation program for Tibetan refugees, his family was allotted farming land as a means of livelihood. Ngodup was born in 1976 and his parents were farmers. His parents Samten Gyatso and Norbu Choedon tended their land, had about 16 cattle which he was very fond of since his childhood. He received tremendous amount of love and care from his parents and being their only child, also little spoiled by them. His parents were originally from Ngari region in Tibet. Although, he has never seen Tibet, like many of his contemporaries who were born in exile, always has a deep rooted connection in their hearts for their homeland, Tibet.
At the age of 3, he got very sick and was immediately taken to the local hospital; his parents were informed that his lower body was paralyzed and he was diagnosed with polio. He was advised medication and his condition improved a little and he could go to school. As a practicing Buddhist, he believes in Karma and he thinks that whatever happened in his life is all because of his past deeds and also that he has to make the most of his life and to be born as a human being. So, he never let his condition deter him from enjoying his life.
His fascination with arts started when he was much younger and he remembers when he was in school, he used to try and draw the deities in the thangkas that are displayed in his home altar. He didn’t finish his school and he believes his true passion in arts brought him to Norbulingka, he enrolled as a Thangka painting apprentice in 1994. He feels that he accomplished his dream of becoming an artist when he graduated after his six years apprenticeship program at Norbulingka. As soon as he graduated, he started working as a thangka artist in the Norbulingka Thangka department and he continued for almost 2 decades until he was appointed as the wood painting master.
For six years Ngodup trained as an apprentice before becoming a professional artist. Under the late master Tencho la, he learned the proportions of the various Buddhist deities, as well as how to stretch a canvas, prepare paint from crushed mineral pigments, and the techniques of both wet and dry shading. He describes his Master as an extremely knowledgeable man, not only in his artistic talents, but also in his teaching abilities. Tencho la inspired a profound interest in his students, who never felt bored, but always appreciated his open-minded and jovial manner. Ngodup found deep meaning in thangka painting, as Buddhists believes that creating such works of art generates merit and is an act of faith and devotion. He further explains that creating thangkas also helps others because they are used as aids in meditational practice, and it is believed that even looking at a thangka creates a positive impression in the viewer’s mind.
As long as Norbulingka has existed, there has always been a woodworking section, and usually wood products were finished by the thangka painters. Around the year 2000, a separate section was formed solely for the purpose of wood painting. The late thangka master Tencho la revived the ancient wood painting technique called kyumbur, a traditional type of relief painting usually used on temple frescoes and adapted it to be used on wooden furniture and accessories, becoming one of Norbulingka’s signature styles. He also developed a collection of designs, used throughout our sections, which are based on traditional Tibetan motifs but are stylized in a manner making them unique to Norbulingka.
In 2018, Ngodup was appointed as the master of the wood-painting section, overseeing a team of about seven artists. He uses Tencho la’s designs, as well as employing his own artistic creativity to create new renditions of traditional designs to decorate all manner of wooden items ranging from pencil cases and jewelry boxes that we have in our shops, to elaborate thrones and altars that are commissioned by patrons.
By 2014, Norbulingka has become of the most popular destinations in Himachal Pradesh to visit and our visitors were interested in the different arts that is being preserved and practiced here. So, Norbulingka started offering short term art workshops to our visitors and we are very happy to be able to offer them the experience and understand the intricacies of the different processes. Ngodup is also the Thangka and Wood painting art instructor for our art workshop programs. He says that whatever he has learned from his late master Gen Tenchoe La and Gen Tenzin Norbu la (current Thangka master) he feels very happy to be able to share that knowledge with others. From a Buddhist perspective, sharing can multiply the happiness and minimize the suffering.
At the age of 3, he got very sick and was immediately taken to the local hospital; his parents were informed that his lower body was paralyzed and he was diagnosed with polio. He was advised medication and his condition improved a little and he could go to school. As a practicing Buddhist, he believes in Karma and he thinks that whatever happened in his life is all because of his past deeds and also that he has to make the most of his life and to be born as a human being. So, he never let his condition deter him from enjoying his life.
His fascination with arts started when he was much younger and he remembers when he was in school, he used to try and draw the deities in the thangkas that are displayed in his home altar. He didn’t finish his school and he believes his true passion in arts brought him to Norbulingka, he enrolled as a Thangka painting apprentice in 1994. He feels that he accomplished his dream of becoming an artist when he graduated after his six years apprenticeship program at Norbulingka. As soon as he graduated, he started working as a thangka artist in the Norbulingka Thangka department and he continued for almost 2 decades until he was appointed as the wood painting master.
For six years Ngodup trained as an apprentice before becoming a professional artist. Under the late master Tencho la, he learned the proportions of the various Buddhist deities, as well as how to stretch a canvas, prepare paint from crushed mineral pigments, and the techniques of both wet and dry shading. He describes his Master as an extremely knowledgeable man, not only in his artistic talents, but also in his teaching abilities. Tencho la inspired a profound interest in his students, who never felt bored, but always appreciated his open-minded and jovial manner. Ngodup found deep meaning in thangka painting, as Buddhists believes that creating such works of art generates merit and is an act of faith and devotion. He further explains that creating thangkas also helps others because they are used as aids in meditational practice, and it is believed that even looking at a thangka creates a positive impression in the viewer’s mind.
As long as Norbulingka has existed, there has always been a woodworking section, and usually wood products were finished by the thangka painters. Around the year 2000, a separate section was formed solely for the purpose of wood painting. The late thangka master Tencho la revived the ancient wood painting technique called kyumbur, a traditional type of relief painting usually used on temple frescoes and adapted it to be used on wooden furniture and accessories, becoming one of Norbulingka’s signature styles. He also developed a collection of designs, used throughout our sections, which are based on traditional Tibetan motifs but are stylized in a manner making them unique to Norbulingka.
In 2018, Ngodup was appointed as the master of the wood-painting section, overseeing a team of about seven artists. He uses Tencho la’s designs, as well as employing his own artistic creativity to create new renditions of traditional designs to decorate all manner of wooden items ranging from pencil cases and jewelry boxes that we have in our shops, to elaborate thrones and altars that are commissioned by patrons.
By 2014, Norbulingka has become of the most popular destinations in Himachal Pradesh to visit and our visitors were interested in the different arts that is being preserved and practiced here. So, Norbulingka started offering short term art workshops to our visitors and we are very happy to be able to offer them the experience and understand the intricacies of the different processes. Ngodup is also the Thangka and Wood painting art instructor for our art workshop programs. He says that whatever he has learned from his late master Gen Tenchoe La and Gen Tenzin Norbu la (current Thangka master) he feels very happy to be able to share that knowledge with others. From a Buddhist perspective, sharing can multiply the happiness and minimize the suffering.
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