Dharamshala — The art exhibition "Dreaming Tibet" or "If I were in Tibet" by about 200 Tibetan students of classes 6 to 12 from five Tibetan schools inaugurates at the Kangra Art Museum, Dharamshala, on Friday. The aim of this exhibition is to raise awareness of Tibet among Indians and to create an opportunity for Tibetan children born in exile, under the title "If I were in Tibet", to express their feelings and thoughts through art form.
Hemraj Bairwa, Deputy Commissioner of Kangra District, inaugurates the art exhibition “Dreaming Tibet” or ‘If I were in Tibet’ by about 200 Tibetan students of classes 6 to 12 from five Tibetan schools at the Kangra Art Museum, Kotwali Bazar, Dharamshala, on September 13, 2024. Sonam Sichoe, President of the Tibetan Village School (TCV), Tibetan activist Tenzin Tsundue, Tibetan writer Bhuchung D Sonam and other artists, Tibetan students and the general public attended the exhibition opening and visited the students' art exhibition. The exhibition will be held from September 13 to 19, 2024.
The “Dreaming Tibet” exhibition is organised by KHADHOK, a collective of Tibetan artists based in Dharamshala. The “If I were in Tibet” art exhibition features works of Tibetan students from Upper TCV, Sambhota Petoen, TCV Gopalpur, TCV Suja and TCV Chauntra. A group of Tibetan and Indian artists has selected 50 works of art to be shown at the exhibition.
The organiser explained that everyone can have a dream, no one can limit the dream, even if we can't go to Tibet, but we can dream of Tibet, which is why we called the exhibition “Dreaming Tibet”, we organised workshops in these schools to involve the students more in the creative process. Art is the expression of our feelings and thoughts, we can raise awareness of the issue of Tibet, the true situation in Tibet, politics and culture through art forms and people can receive more messages from these artistic forms.
“After over 60 years of occupation, Tibetan children are growing up in exile, disconnected from their homeland. With Khadhok's first-ever Youth Art Engagement Project, we aim to encourage them to reflect on their roots, identity, dreams, and aspirations. This unique exhibition brings together a vibrant collection of artworks that reflect how our young artists imagine life in Tibet," the organiser said.
Tsering Chospal, from the TCV Suja School, drew a picture of Tibetan nature. He explained his drawing: “For us, Tibetan nature was beautiful, everything was green, the water was fresh, you could drink water straight from the river, all the mountains were covered in snow, the clouds were white and everyone was kind. But after China invaded Tibet, Tibetan nature was destroyed.”
Tennor Samkey, a student from TCV Suja School, explained her drawing (a head that is half Chinese and half Tibetan, half Tibetan cloth and half Chinese school uniform) by saying: The drawing is called ‘Who am I?’ because I have heard that in Tibet, parents are forced to send their children to a Chinese board school. If I were in Tibet, I would learn and speak Chinese and live in a Chinese environment that would make me think about who I am. Because, my parents always told me: “You are a Tibetan”. But the teacher is telling me and forcing me to believe that I am a Chinese! In a situation like this, the biggest and hardest question is who I am.”
