The 'thangka' painting is the traditional sacred artwork of Tibetan Mahayana Buddhism. The motifs and images rendered in the thangka are based upon 1000 years of artistic tradition and development. Hand painted on canvas with the greatest delicacy and care, the most common use of the thangka is as a wall hanging, where it is meant to induce a positive and sacred energy in the home or space where it is displayed, as well as to ward off evil spirits. Tibetan monks and mystics have traditionally used thangkas as objects for meditation and in healing ceremonies.
The thangka is hand painted on canvas using acrylic paints and genuine 24 carat gold leaf, and then sewn into a colorful silk frame which can be rolled for easy transport. The artist creates the thangka as an act of devotion and immaculacy, and the content generally incorporates sacred deities and mandalas, as well as aspects of Tibetan theology, astrology, and even pharmacology. All Thangka paintings on display at Himalaya Bali are present in our locations on the island of Bali, and are originally hand painted by Newari and Tamang Buddhist artists living in the Kathmandu Valley of Nepal.