Step into a world where art becomes a medium for exploring compassion and wisdom inour contemporary world. Anay Ngawang Chodak’s work manifests intrinsic and mesmerising abstractions that delve into the profound symbolism of interconnectedness. This exhibition unveils a visual symphony of spirited and meaningful Buddhist philosophical expressionsthat invite viewers to embark on a journey of introspection through meditative art.
The fusion of styles from Newa Paubha art, Kashmiri style Alchi art, and Tibetan art breathenew life into ancient iconographies, resulting in a visual language that resonates with modern sensibilities. Ngawang’s creations undergo a metamorphosis, merging his deep reverence for tradition with a contemporary interpretation.
The infinite connecting lines that weave through his works symbolise the complex yet harmonious interconnectedness of our existence. His creations unfold a narrative thatechoes the very essence of Buddhist philosophy, which transcends the illusion of separateness. The flowers in his creations symbolise the freshness of love and compassion.
Ngawang’s exploration of feminine energy as a divine source of wisdom offers a fresh perspective on the sacred feminine. Male and female energies are balanced and complementary—they support each other and transcend mere coexistence. This duality represents oneness beyond any borders or differences. Through introspection on interconnectedness, distinctions between individuals dissolve.
Using Japanese mineral pigment, French gouache paints, oil, acrylic, and 24K gold, Ngawang brings his creations to life on cotton canvas, handmade Tibetan cotton canvas,and French cold and hot-pressed paper.
May this exhibition illuminate the path to fostering a collective vision for a more positive and compassionate world.
Anay Ngawang Chodak (b. 1980) is a devoted Buddhist practitioner and a direct descendant of Repa Dorje Chang (one of the Jetsun Milarepa’s disciples) lineage. He is a Tibetan traditional thangka master and a contemporary artist.
For the past two decades, he has dedicated his artistic mastery to one of the most notable Buddhist art projects, Sangwa Gyachen (Tib. གསང་བ་རྒྱ ་ཅན་) meaning ‘Bearing the Seal of Secrecy’— visionary teachings of the Great Fifth Dalai Lama. He completed two sets of 32 thangka collections for His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama and H.E. Khandro Kunga Bhuma Tseringma Rinpoche. He has also served Khandro Kunga Bhuma Rinpoche by completing a thangka mural in the sanctum sanctorum of the five-story Great Stupa in Tawang, Arunachal Pradesh,India.
Ngawang’s art is a reinvention of his roots in ancient Buddhist art, which originates from India’s Nalanda tradition. Ngawang delivers it with a fusion of styles from Newa Paubha art, Kashmiri style Alchi art, and Tibetan art. He merges these iconographies to present a unique and modern interpretation, particularly in the context of female energy as a divine source of wisdom.
After completing a long-term residency in Dharamsala, India, Anay Ngawang Chodak decided to pursue a career as a Tibetan contemporary artist. He realises the importance ofpreserving and reinventing Tibetan and Himalayan arts through modern interpretation to enrich the global art scene, particularly in the broader context of Asia.
He currently lives and works in Kathmandu, Nepal.
