Lhakpa Tsering, is a guest of honor Tibetan artist who won the honorary award with his panting “Three gods” in the “Beauty of Tibet Art Contest Painting Exhibition” on Oct. 26, 2011. He is one of the Tibetan artists who attended the event.

Tsering is Vice Chairman of Shigatze Fine Arts and Photography Association in the south of Tibet. Deeply rooted in the local culture, his painting depicts local people’s houses – typical architecture of the Sayga Sect of Tibetan Buddhism in three colors, red, yellow and white.

As an artist from local Tibet, he felt honored to attend the art contest and was awarded. He was also happy to see his own ethnic culture has aroused so much interest among artists of the Han nationality (the biggest ethnic group in China) through this large-scale and high-profile art event.

“Our artworks may go deeper into the Tibetan culture while the Han artists depict more on the beauty of Tibet. They are better at capturing moments of the beauty. Both are good just like a person’s two hands,” said Tsering.

The paintings display the development of Tibet in all aspects, especially the improved living standard of Tibetan people as well as their full enjoyment in life in the present time.

“Art is a luxury. Only by living a better life can people have the desire to treasure their own culture, and the leisure to showcase their culture. The booming Tibetan culture rests upon the great changes in local Tibetans’ life,” uttered Tsering with strong emotion.

As is known, the most representative of Tibetan art is Thangka, which is mainly focused on religious subjects. However, Tsering’s painting has developed further into a modern style derided from the style of Thangka. His exhibited tri-colored art piece is a good example of modern Tibetan art with human-oriented elements.

“Before the peaceful liberation in 1951, most of the Tibetan artworks were done for religion. But now many other art forms have flourished such as oil painting, ink brush, engraving, you name it…” said Tsering. “The serfdom era is over. The modern time has seen a more open and prosperous Tibetan art.”

This art contest contributed to removing misunderstanding of the western people towards modern Tibet, according to Tsering as the “Fourth-generation Tibetan artists”, also known as “the New Tibetan artists”.

It is good that many Westerners are curious about Tibetan art, but little has been known to them due to lack of communication and publication, according to Tsering, who has put on many art shows abroad himself. He also suggests that more exchanges with the western world should be conducted and more Tibetan artists be invited. He also shows his interest to attend the next art contest with better works in the next two years.

The “Beauty of Tibet Art Contest Painting Exhibition” was a follow-up event sponsored by China Tibet Online, highlighting the 60th anniversary of the peaceful liberation of Tibet Autonomous Region. Altogether 50 artists were awarded. The exhibition lasts from Oct. 26 till 30.