Thangka Exhibition at Maitreya Instituut Amsterdam
April-June 2012
YOUR WORDS
From November 22, 2011 to February 20, 2012, Maitreya Instituut Amsterdam, located along the Brouwersgracht canal in Amsterdam, displayed 36 thangkas [scroll paintings] and other artwork created by some of artist Andy Weber’s Dutch students. The idea to exhibit their own works was developed by a group of Andy’s thangka painting students who wanted to show their appreciation and respect for the 27 years that Andy has been teaching there. Three of them discussed the idea with center director Paula de Wijs, who was immediately enthusiastic. So they contacted current and past students, organized the collecting and photographing of the works, publicity, and the hanging of the thangkas in the center.
The opening reception was a great success. After speeches by Paula, the organizing students and Andy, he cut the ribbon and led the 100 or so visitors through the exhibition. What visitors seem to have appreciated most were the warmth and color of the thangkas and other pieces of art, the great variety of subjects and styles, and the high technical quality of the painting – a fine tribute to Andy’s teachings.
Here we feature a sampling of the works:
Tags: thangka "Milarepa" by Andy Weber. Photographer unknown. |
 "Mandarava" by Ans Swart. Photo by Ans Swart. |
 "Vajrasattva, Lama Zopa, Paula de Wijs" by April Elzenga. Photo by Matty de Wijs. |
 "108 mani stones" by Berty Sieverding. Photo by Berty Sieverding. |
 "Four-armed Chenrezig" by Berty Sieverding. Photo by Berty Sieverding. |
 "Mandala of Vajra Yogini" by Berty Sieverding. Photo by Netty Leleulya. |
 "Medicine Buddha" by Birgitta Vereecke. Photo by Netty Leleulya. |
 "Prajna Paramita" by Birgitta Vereecke. Photo Netty Leleuly. |
 "8 Medicine Buddhas" by Carmen Mensink. Photo by Carmen Mensink. |
 "Long Life Deities" by Chris Dagradi. Photo by Chris Dagradi. |
 "Lotus and Green Tara" by les and Neil Walker. Photographer unknown. |
 "21 Taras" by Ies Walker. Photo by Netty Leleulya. |
 "Vajrasattva" by les Walker. Photo by Netty Leleulya. |
 "Green Tara Mantra" by Joop Aalbers. Photo by Joop Aalbers. |
 "5 Simhamukkhas" by Marian van der Horst. Photo by Marian van der Horst. |
 "Mandala of Chenrezig" by Marion Koelman. Photo by Marion Koelman. |
 "Vajra Yogini" by Marion Koelman. Photo by Netty Leleulya. |
 "Wheel of Life" by Marlies Bruin. Photo by Netty Leleulya. |
 "Long Life Deities" by Sarah Sugatt. Photo by Sarah Sugatt. |
 "Vaishravana" by Sarah Sugatt, Delft blue tile. Photo Sarah Sugatt. |
 "Om Mani Padme Hum" by Wenona Robb. Photo by Wenona Robb. |
 "White Tara, Gold on Red" by Fred van der Zee. Copy right digitalthangka.com. Dutchmen Fred van der Zee (born October 31, 1955) has been drawing digital thangka's since 2008. He studied Graphic Design at the Academy for Fine Arts at Enschede, The Netherlands; after his graduation he worked for 15 years as a freelance designer on a wide variety of projects. During this period, he became an expert in using computers in art. Using them for drawing tradional thangka's started when he met his current drawing teacher Andy Weber, a thangka artist who has been studying and drawing thangka's for over 30 years. Using traditional grids and drawing processes, Fred has set out on a journey to discover the challenges and possibilities of weaving Tibetan tradition with modern technology. His quest for the perfect digital thangka can be followed on digitalthangka.com and Facebook. |
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