Dharamshala — Khadhok, a collective of Tibetan artists organised an art exhibition entitled ‘UNSETTLED’ at Mcleod Ganj on November 1, 2024. The exhibition features 20 exiled Tibetan artists from around the world. The artworks explore themes of Tibetan identity, displacement and the universal journey of belonging. The artworks also illustrated the unsettled lives of Tibetans in Exile.
Khadhok, a collective of Tibetan artists in exile, founded in August 2023, aims to provide a platform to support Tibetan artists, organising art workshops for the next generation and providing platforms for Tibetan artists to showcase their work.
The main guest at the opening was Tenzin Lekshay, spokesman for the Central Tibetan Administration, and artists, young people, writers, singer Kharag Penpa, NGO representatives, in all more than 50 people from Dharamshala came to see the art exhibition. The exhibition is on show at the Buddha Abode, Mcleod Ganj, Dharamshala, from November 1 to 16, 2024.
The 20 Tibetan Artists featured in the exhibition are Aku Trak, Cactushastserma, Late Chungpo Tsering, Late Jigme Choedak, Jigme Namdol, Karma Sichoe, Kesang Lamdark, Lobsang Tsewang, Losang Gyatso, Moira, Monsal Pekar, Ngoshi Choedon, Sherab Tashi, Nyima ,Tenzin Dolker, Tenzin Gyurmey Dorjee, Tenzin Melak, Tenzin Tsering, Tsering Choden and Tsultrim Tenzin
Tashi Nyima, co-founder of the Khadhok, explained why the art exhibition is entitled "Unsettled". He said, "Unsettled" explores this shared journey-searching for meaning, identity, and home amid displacement. In this in-between space, we artists find our creative pulse, connecting our diverse voices. Each artwork tells a personal story, yet together we form a collective narrative, balancing memory and hope."
"We Tibetans in exile, even if we have a place or a contemporary home, like the Tibetan camp in India, we physically live in a place, but we are always looking for a home, a real home, our minds are always unsettled. Our creations speak of loss, survival, identity, and transformation-they remind us that to be Tibetan is to live between what was and what could be," he added.
Tenzin Lekshay said, " The title of this exhibition is ‘Unsettled’, a synonym for stateless, we have no freedom and we are refugees. I see the many stories of our lives as exiles through this exhibition of artworks by the new generation, as well as the potential of new generations."
Karma Sichoe, a Thangka painter and contemporary artist said while descriping his feeling about the art exhibition, " Today, I am very happy, because my dream has come true, our young generation is orgainsing this art exhibition. As our generation, art has been treated as something insignificant and looked down upon by people, and the general public has no awareness of art, this is the sad reality of my generation. This generation has more awareness on art and I am feel happy about that. But we Tibetans are not able to utilise the power of art, there are so many ways, where art can be perfect tools to take what is yours."
When Jamyang Tenzin, a young Tibetan artist, was asked what he thought of the exhibition, he replied: “In this exhibition, there are 20 Tibetan artists from all over the world, the works of art represent the different points of view, context and environment of artists from different countries, and it’s magnificent. These artworks reflect the richness of Tibetan culture and the intelligence of the artists.”
