Painter gives ancient thangka art a contemporary look

Orgyan Chopel, a Living Buddha, gives the sacred art of thangka a modern look by using symbols. [Photo provided to China Daily]

"At first, I was not sure about his art.But the more I look at it, the more I like it," says Watt, who has researched Tibetan art history for decades.

"His art is fresh and new, much like figurative surrealism. Viewers can have their own understanding of his paintings," he adds.

The Chengdu-based artist was picked as an incarnated lama at age 13 in his hometown in Garze county in Sichuan province.

And since then, he has lived in many temples learning about thangka paintings, music and Buddhism.

When he was 16, he could paint a traditional thangka independently. But after years of studying, he wondered if people would understand this kind of Buddhist art.

In 2011, Chopel started to use abstraction in traditional thangka art.

"Traditional thangka is very comprehensive. It includes not only Buddhism, but also medical science, astronomy and math. People have to learn a lot before they are able to appreciate a traditional piece," says Chopel.