The lofty Qomolangma Peak, ancient Tibetan culture and the intriguing monasteries of the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau have inspired countless artists of myriad disciplines to varying and copious creations. With its exotic landscape, unique way of life and intrepid people, the plateau of the Tibet Autonomous Region is a hotspot for travelers and painters of various genres, including the mediums of traditional Chinese, oil, watercolor and wood block.

Master Padmasambhava.

The Spring Is Approaching.
Along with the social and economic development of Tibet, the age-old folk art and traditional painting of the region - especially represented by thangka painting and Buddha images - unveil to the outside world the mystique and beauty of Tibetan Buddhism painting, thus enabling diverse peoples to better grasp the history of the art-both traditional and modern.

A Silent Samsara.

By absorbing the best elements from both Western and Oriental painting, ancient and modern, Nyima Tsering developed a style all his own; entirely new in Tibet and China. And he has gained the distinct reputation as being the "sole practitioner of a new style of Tibetan painting."

Giving an Instruction.

Since the 1980s, Tsering's many fine works have earned high and plentiful praise. Among these are poignant depictions of Tibetan life, such as Paradise and The Snow-Covered Land. Ingeniously using the landform of Tibet, his paintings, including Life, The Origin of Life and The Choice of Life, project a rich imagination and a use of color vividly depicting the strong sense of life inherent to the indomitable Tibetan people - who traditionally worship life and fear not death. His paintings, including A Dream of the Roof of the World, Tsongkhapa (Founder of the Yellow Sect of Tibetan Buddhism) Debates on Buddhist Doctrine and The Last Pure Land, allow the people of this and other nations to better understand the history of Tibetan Buddhism. Integrating the essentials of Western and Eastern culture, these paintings display elements of both traditional thangka and modern styles.

In the Deep of a Mountain.

In his powerful composition, The Spectacular Ruins, Tsering reveals the Kingdom of Guge, which came to be in the 11th Century, only to be destroyed in a brutal war in the 17th Century. In this work the ruins on a mountain peak under the golden clouds of dawn symbolize the glory years of the kingdom. The moon in the sky delivers a sensation of samsara and induces fantastic reveries. The dark blue background speaks to the solemn and stirring history of the kingdom. In integrating the techniques of traditional Chinese painting with that of oil painting, the work depicts a certain power with great aesthetic appeal.

Tsering particularly threw himself into studying the ancient Kingdom of Guge, visiting every corner of that former land. The fragmentary murals in the ruins and his personal appeal for peace especially inspired his creative depictions of the extraordinary Tibetan civilization. The Spectacular Ruins has not only won the admiration of Buddhists, but also moved others who revere the concept of peace on Earth. When the painting was exhibited at the parliamentary hall in Geneva, Swiss VIPs and those from other countries offered high praise. The painting was later exhibited in Hong Kong, Taiwan, and foreign nations, including France, Spain, Austria, India, the United Kingdom and the United States.

Princess Wencheng Entering Tibet.

Perhaps Nyima Tsering's most important achievement is his development of a painted art form reflecting 1,300 years of Tibetan Buddhism, while greatly contributing to the growth of a new and original style of Tibetan painting.


Nyima Tsering


Vice president of the Chinese Artists Association and member of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference. The late 10th Panchen Lama appreciated Nyima Tsering's paintings to the extent that he designated him as his official painter.

China Pictorial
Wang Yugeng