Sarika Singh (Thangka painter)

Dr. Sarika Singh, Thangka artist, Teacher and Co-Founder of Center for Living Buddhist Art, Thangde Gatsal Studio and Himalayan Art Museum, Dharamshala; alongside her Alchi Tara Thangka.

Dr. Sarika Singh is perhaps the first Indian female master painter and teacher in the Buddhist tradition of Thangka Painting. Born on 13 August 1976, in New Delhi, she began her studies in the art of Thangka painting, in 1996, at the prestigious Norbulingka Institute in Dharamshala, Northern India under the tutelage of her master, Tempa Choephel. In the year 2015, she completed her Master’s degree in ‘Buddhist and Tibetan Studies’ from Punjab University, and ‘PhD’ from Central University of Himachal Pradesh in the year 2021.

Along with her husband Master Locho, one of the finest Master Thangka painters in the world, Singh co-founded the ‘Center for Living Buddhist Art’ and 'Thangde Gatsal Thangka Studio' in 2001. In 2019, they established the Himalayan Art Museum which connects us to the rich cultural heritage of India and Tibet. The museum aims to generate awareness about the Buddhist art through contemporary quality thangka works based on the tradition carried forward by Indian and Tibetan masters. This museum is a window to the 2,300 years old journey of the tradition of Buddhist paintings and the evolution of art through ages and geographies. The museum exhibits the finest master pieces created by Locho and Singh.

Thangka Painting Contributions

• Created over 300 Masterpiece Paintings in 25 years
• Commissions executed for prestigious 'Patrons' from around the world.
• Travelled and Exhibited across the Globe.
• Created Museum with 45 Masterpiece Paintings depicting 2300 years Journey of Buddhist Paintings.
• Researched and Recreated Ancient Indian Artistic Styles of Ajanta Caves, Tabo and Alchi Monastery.
• Painted Masterpiece Thangka of Dharamsala Tara announcing the Arrival of Thangka Paintings to the Indian Soil.
• Created Thangka artwork that merge ancient Thangka themes with Advanced Technology.

Thangde Gatsal Studio : Teaching

• Committed to Teaching Indian and Foreign Students since 22 Years!
• Authored Thangka Textbooks based on Ancient Tradition.
• Providing Platform for teaching students and artists across ages and geographies.
• Training Materials customised and restructured like never before.
• With the help of the Technology, Designed Distant learning/Self Study Courses for the First Time.
• Collaboration with Indian and Foreign Universities and Museums
• Authored and Published Papers
• Preserved over 10,000 Thangka Drawings

Cultural Contributions

• Served as Expert Advisors to Ministry of Culture, Government of India.
• Ted- Speaker on Transformative Journey of Buddhist Painting
• Highlighting the anonymous lives of artists.
• Helping people cultivate love kindness compassion through Art

Recognitions and awards

2022	Human story documented on Dr. Sarika Singh by RFA-Radio Free Asia, Tibetan (Link to the talk)
2022	Talk on Tibetan Paintings and the Deity Tara by Foundation For Universal responsibility of His Holiness the Dalai Lama (Link )
2017	Sarika, Tedx Speaker (Link to the talk)
2015	Sarika, Academic advisor to Fulbright-Nehru Research Scholar and Artist, Department of State, United States of America
2013	Sarika, Expert Advisory Committee Member for ‘Preservation of Himalayan Cultural Heritage’, Ministry of Culture, Government of India
2012	Sarika, Expert Advisory Committee Member for ‘Scholarships to Young Artists’, Ministry of Culture, Government of India
2011	Sarika, Expert Advisory Committee Member for Preservation of Buddhist/Tibetan Culture and Art, Ministry of Culture, Government of India
2010	Sarika, Perhaps the First Indian woman to become a Thangka painter and Teacher, The office of His Holiness the Dalai Lama
2006	Sarika, Top 50 Most Distinguished Alumni, Lady Shri College for Women, Golden Jubilee Celebration
1997	Sarika, ‘Prize for Art and Décor, Lady Shri Ram College, Government of India
	Sarika, Gurukal Project Scholarship, Foundation for Universal Responsibility, His Holiness Dalai Lama
1996	Sarika,   Gurukal   Project   Scholarship,    Foundation   for    Universal Responsibility, His Holiness Dalai Lama

          

Workshops and Residencies

2007	Visiting Artist, The Jacques Marchais Tibetan Museum, Tibet Festival, Staten Island, New York, USA
2004	Visiting Artist, University of Denver, Denver, Colorado, USA
2000	Artist Workshop, Graz, Austria

Exhibitions and Commissions

2010          Exhibition coinciding with the Teachings of His Holiness the Dalai Lama, Bloomington, Indiana, USA

2008          Exhibition coinciding with the Teachings of His Holiness the Dalai Lama, Sydney, Australia

Exhibition coinciding with the Teachings of His Holiness the Dalai Lama, London, United Kingdom

2007          Featured Artist, Teachings of His Holiness the Dalai Lama, New Zealand

Featured Artist, Teachings of His Holiness the Dalai Lama, Germany

Featured Artist, Teachings of His Holiness the Dalai Lama, New York, USA

Featured Artist, Teachings of His Holiness the Dalai Lama, Bloomington, Indiana, USA

2006          Featured Artist, Teachings of His Holiness the Dalai Lama, New York, New York, USA

2005          Official backdrop Paintings, Shantideva Teachings, His Holiness the Dalai Lama, Commissioned by Arizona Teachings, Inc., Tucson, Arizona, USA

Exhibition coinciding with the Shantideva Teachings, His Holiness the Dalai Lama, Tucson, Arizona, USA

2003          Radiant Transmission: Contemporary Masterpieces of Tibetan Buddhist Art, October Gallery, London, United Kingdom

2002          Official backdrop paintings, Kālachakra Initiation Ceremony for World Peace, His Holiness the Dalai Lama, commissioned by the She Drup Ling Buddhist Centre, Graz, Austria.

Exhibition coinciding with the Kālachakra Initiation Ceremony  for World Peace, Graz, Austria

Publications

·     Singh, S. (2020). Painting Thangkas: Depicting Morality. Artos, 9 (Url: http://www.uaos.unios.hr/artos/index.php/hr/thangka-slikarstvo/singh-

painting-thangkas)

·     Singh, S. (2020). Image and Imagery: Making Buddha. Artos, 9. (Url: http://www.uaos.unios.hr/artos/index.php/hr/thangka-slikarstvo/singh-making-buddha)