“A Glimpse of a Thousand Years - Good Neighborliness and Beauty in Chinese Thangka Painting” Exhibition Successfully Held in Laos

On March 7th, the exhibition “A Thousand Years at a Glance – Good Neighbors and Shared Beauty in Chinese Thangka Painting,” co-hosted by the Lao China Cultural Center and the China International Cultural Exchange Center, and organized by Beijing Hongnanfang Science and Technology Culture Media Co., Ltd. with the support of the Lao Women's Union, was successfully held at the Lao China Cultural Center. Ms. Sirigj Bupa, Vice Chairperson of the Lao Women's Union, along with over 100 attendees, including guests from relevant Lao government agencies such as the Ministry of Information, Culture and Tourism, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the National Institute of Arts, Lao National Television, and the Faculty of Letters of the National University of Laos, as well as representatives from some Chinese-funded institutions, were present at the event.

Li Yiping, director of the China Cultural Center in Laos, stated that 2025 is the “China-ASEAN Year of Culture and People-to-People Exchanges,” and the exhibition “A Thousand Years at a Glance – Good Neighborliness and Beauty in Chinese Thangka Painting” is one of the important series of activities. The exhibition features over 30 selected works from the “Thousand Thangkas of Padmasambhava,” which are rich in ancient Southeast Asian characteristics. It will allow the Lao people to gain a deeper understanding of the rich connotations of Chinese painting techniques and religious culture, enhance exchanges and understanding between the people of both countries, and further deepen the people-to-people connectivity and friendly relations between China and Laos.

Li Yiping, Director of the China Cultural Center in Laos, delivered a speech.

Vice Chairperson of the Lao Women's Union, Khiri Geng Bupa, stated in her speech that the Thangka painting exhibition is not only a vivid display of China's brilliant culture and art, but also an increase in mutual understanding between China and Laos in the field of Buddhist culture. These artworks will allow the Lao people to better understand the value of Chinese ethnic culture, promote the connection and cooperation between China and Laos in the cultural field, drive civilizational exchanges and mutual learning, and enhance the friendship between the two peoples.

Speech by Mrs. Khiri Vongpaserth, Vice President of the Lao Women's Union

At the opening ceremony, Tsering Dorje, the founder of “Master Padmasambhava Thousand Thangka Paintings,” presented guests with khata in a solemn ceremony, conveying deep friendship to the Laotian people and expressing the most sincere respect and blessings to the guests.

“Jamyang Dorje, the creator of ”Padmasambhava's Thousand Thangkas," presented a khata to the guests.

At the event, professional guides provided guests with detailed explanations of the Buddhist stories and cultural connotations embodied in the Thangka paintings, as well as the special techniques used in their creation. The guests listened with great interest, praising the exquisite and delicate brushstrokes, vibrant and magnificent colors, and profound and rich cultural connotations of the Thangkas. Ms. Maniphone Langsyxong, Deputy Director of the Planning and Cooperation Department of the Lao Ministry of Information, Culture and Tourism, stated that Laos also has a rich and profound Buddhist culture, and this event will surely promote cultural exchange and cooperation between China and Laos. Ms. Sisavanh Davinsoth, Deputy Director of the General Office of the Lao National Women's Union, expressed her pleasure in being able to view such exquisite and precious Buddhist art scrolls up close, calling it not only a cultural exchange but also a spiritual purification.

Guest viewing the exhibition

The event featured an interactive Thangka painting experience area. Guests stopped to participate in copying Thangka paintings, experiencing the charm of traditional arts like coloring and gold outlining in the Thangka painting process. Professional instructors, with their skilled techniques and profound artistic cultivation, guided guests step-by-step into the exquisite world of Thangka painting. From outlining the form to coloring and shading, every step was meticulously detailed, as if guiding everyone to touch the pulse of history. Guests focused intently, their brushes moving slowly across the canvas, as if traveling through time and space, engaging in a silent dialogue with ancient art.

Guest experiences Thangka painting imitation

This exhibition and Thangka painting interactive experience will continue until March 13th.