Nepalese artist Tsherin Sherpa brings contemporary Buddhist art to California

Exhibition of the Nepalese artist Tsherin Sherpa Different worldswhich showcases its captivating blend of traditional and contemporary art styles from the East and West, will be held at the Sonoma Valley Museum of Art in Northern California, with an opening on January 20 and a reception on January 27.

Born in Kathmandu, Sherpa immigrated to the San Francisco Bay Area in 1998, where his art was shaped by his experiences within the Himalayan diaspora and his please painting training.

“Growing up in Nepal, I was immersed in Buddhist culture and iconography,” Sherpa said. “Although I was not a monk, I studied Buddhist scriptures at a nearby monastery. Thus, alongside traditional art, I was imbued with its meaning. (Sonoma Valley Sunshine)

In a recent interview with the Asia Society Texas Center, Sherpa said, “I was trained as a please painter by my father. After arriving in America, I began to integrate my skills and knowledge into traditional fields. please create contemporary works that express (sic) my personal social concerns in the contemporary context. (Youtube)

His journey in please painting involved five years of mastering the basics, followed by continued skill development. Only in recent years has Sherpa delved into contemporary forms, resulting in a distinctive blend of cultural heritage and modern perspectives.

“Tsherin Sherpa’s work is an extraordinary synthesis of traditional Himalayan culture and practices and cutting-edge contemporary art, making for a unique and inspiring exhibition. His work bridges continents and cultures,” said Linda Keaton, executive director of the Monterey Museum of Art. “We hope the Bay Area community will take advantage of this very special opportunity to experience the work of this world-renowned artist. » (Sonoma Valley Sunshine)

Sherpa's artistic prowess extends beyond California, with exhibitions throughout the United States, Europe and Asia. Notably, he represented Nepal at the Venice Biennale in 2022 and has participated in other international events, presenting his work in prestigious collections globally.

Owen Duffy, Nancy C. Allen Curator and Director of Exhibitions at the Asia Society Texas, noted his appreciation of Sherpa's work: "One of my favorite aspects of Tsherin Sherpa's work is the way he includes language visual graphic novels, cartoons. , comics, trademarks, logos and that sort of thing, with traditional language please paint. » He explained: “You might think these things are complete opposites, when in reality they share many similarities visually and formally. " (Youtube)

In February 2022, the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts hosted Sherpa's first mid-career retrospective, titled Tsherin Sherpa: Spirits. The retrospective was on view at the Peabody Essex Museum in Salem, Massachusetts, and the Asia Society in Houston, Texas, in September 2023. Sherpa's trip from Kathmandu to California showcased her ability to seamlessly blend traditional roots and contemporary influences in his globally recognized art. .

Her honors include participation in the Venice Biennale in 2022, the Yokohama Triennale in 2020, the Yinchuan Biennale in 2018, the Kathmandu Triennale in 2017, the Asia-Pacific Contemporary Art Triennale in Brisbane in 2015-2016 and at the Dhaka Art Summit in 2014. He won the Asia Arts Game Changer Award in 2023 for his contribution to contemporary art.

Le Different worlds The exhibit is scheduled to remain on display at the Sonoma Valley Museum of Art until April 28, 2024.