Shambhala
Ang Tsherin, 2013
Silver and gold leaf, acrylic and ink on cotton
74 × 107 cm

© Ang Tsherin

Seen through the lens of the Himalayan diaspora, my work deals both with the preservation and transformation of a scattered culture by bridging the sacred and secular, the historical and the contemporary. As a nomadic people we have learned, over the centuries, to adapt to many different environments.

Bearing in mind this migration, I explore my own experience of identity by experimenting with the deconstruction and abstraction of traditional Himalayan iconography.

As cultures intertwine, I seek to determine how a unique essence can be maintained, celebrated, and shared while integrating the benefits found within new contexts.

I also explore my experience by drawing on spirit iconography. Throughout the Himalayas, it is believed that local spirits are associated with specific geographic regions, their land and people. Conceptually, these spirits also symbolize the collective disposition and identity of its people. I have been exploring these spirits in my works for several years by imagining their association with my immediate surroundings. Shambhala and Fly High are two of the works from the series.