Tibetan crafts entice city shoppers

He says that the fusion of these two mediums allows him to infuse the sacred geometry and symbolism of the thangka with the organic fluidity and tactile nature of ceramics.

"When I paint on ceramics, it feels like I'm bringing life to the figures, giving them a new dimension. Ceramics have a certain warmth and glow that the traditional thangka doesn't always capture. The material feels like a canvas that can reflect both light and shadow — like life itself," he adds.

The inspiration for this shift came after Tsering Gyel had been honing his thangka painting skills for over 15 years.

With the support of a training facility in Rangtang, he ventured into ceramic art in Jingdezhen, a city renowned for its porcelain craftsmanship.

"The ceramics have a depth and resonance that I've always admired. My hope is to take these two worlds — the Tibetan thangka and Chinese porcelain — and weave them together in a way that feels both timeless and contemporary."

His approach to ceramics involves applying mineral pigments in layers, a technique that echoes traditional thangka painting, but which is adapted to the particular properties of porcelain.

Tsering Gyel emphasizes that it's important to carefully mix colors to ensure they complement the porcelain's natural glow, resulting in an effect that is both luminous and deep.

This commitment to preserving and advancing Tibetan art has earned him and his peers in the trade recognition both in China and abroad.

"Our work has been presented as state gifts to senior officials from Portugal, and has been bought by museums," he says with pride.

Wang Zhen, general manager of the event's co-host, BTG Tourism Development, believes the second edition will further endear Rangtang county to capital residents.

"Last year's response was extraordinary," Wang says of the effect of the first exhibition in March 2024.

"The event lasted for 20 days, and we welcomed close to 120,000 visits. The scale of participation spoke for itself," he adds.

Wang considers the event more than a showcase, and more as a cultural bridge between Beijing and Rangtang.

"Inspired by what they saw, many people went on to visit the region in person, tracing the origins of its art, spirituality, and landscape," he says.

The impact extended well beyond tourism.

"We saw experts from institutions like the China Tourism Academy express genuine interest," Wang says. "They offered support, ideas, and resources, contributing to the upgrading of Rangtang's cultural and tourism in a tangible way."

So far, the tourism development company has designed a series of tailored travel experiences, ranging from cultural immersion and Tibetan cuisine tours, to landscape photography journeys.

The broader plan includes aligning Rangtang's tourism development with the provincial strategies set by Sichuan, to ensure that new tourist offerings are rooted in feasibility and sustainable growth, Wang says.

For Chodzin, the popularity of these creative cultural products has brought tangible benefit to his community.

His tsatsa workshop, part of a network of more than 40 cultural heritage centers in Aba prefecture, employs around 20 artists, including local craftsmen who shape the clay, and skilled painters from a nearby thangka school.

In recent years, invitations have poured in, and Chodzin has demonstrated his hometown's appeal at major events, including the Western China International Fair, and various national craft exhibitions, where city collectors marveled at the tiny clay deities.

Sales have been promising. One of their most successful events in Wenzhou in Zhejiang province last year netted over 100,000 yuan ($13,750).

"Many of these artisans had no prior experience of making art for the market, but through the workshop, they have gained both economic opportunities and a renewed connection to local cultural heritage," he says.