Arts & Crafts
Bhutanese art can be classified into three main categories, painting, sculpture and architecture. One distinctive characteristics of art is that they all have religious theme and don’t serve any aesthetic purpose. They are mostly anonymous since the artists are all monks who look upon these tasks as a part of their religious duties. All art forms are required to follow a set pattern laid down in accordance with the rules of iconography down to the finest details. Paintings are of three types. Paintings on statues, mural paintings and “Thangkhas”. Other techniques used in making thangkhas are embroidery and appliqué. The Bhutanese use paintings in different forms to beautify walls, chests, tables, doors, windows and wooden fixtures, etc. used in all kinds of buildings, bridges, etc. A strong Tibetan and Newari (indigenous people of Kathmandu valley) influence is visible in the style, form and thematic composition of Bhutanese art and architecture. All works of arts are of religious significance and bears testimony to the profound faith the Bhutanese people espouse in their religion.
Traditional Bhutanese architecture is an adaptation of the Tibetan style and layout, which include traits derived from Newari and Chinese concepts, defined by crafted woodwork having designs in rich details are engraved in doors, windows, lattices and frames that support the roof. Solid blocks of wood are used to strengthen and hold the structure in place. Thick wooden planks are arranged neatly on the floors. Masoned stone is used extensively for building walls and pave courtyards. The commonest forms of architecture are the Chortens (stupas in Sanskrit) consecrated in memory of the great events in the life of the Buddha. Chortens in Bhutan can be classified into three types large whitewashed stoned modeled after the Baudhanath stupa in Nepal are found mostly in Eastern Bhutan. In the central part smaller stones chortens in Tibetan style are predominant. Square shaped chortens having roofs composed of four slopes with a white red strip decorating the upper part just below the roof are mostly found in western Bhutan. Lhakhangs and Gompas are basically temples, Lhakhang being smaller of simple design usually painted red to differentiate from ordinary houses. Lhakhangs also sport an ornamented of gilded copper. The inside walls are covered by paintings and the hall is compartmented by pillars into an antechamber and prayer room (chesum) with an alter where statues and thangkhas depicting deities to whom the Lhakhang is dedicated to is kept.
Gompas are larger monasteries that also have cells and service room to accommodate monks who reside in them permanently. They also have multiple temples and structures that serves as living quarters for monks attached to them. Gompas are of two types, the clustered type with one or two temples and small quarters to house the monks surrounding it and the Dzong type, which is built like a fortress. In the Dzong type, the temples are located in the central tower walled in by rose of monk’s cell and service room built all around it.
Sculpture
Examples of rock sculpture and carving is limited to letter carved in bass relief on stonewalls and rocks. However, fine engravings in slate, flagstones carrying inscriptions identifying the figures represented are fine examples of the carving skills of Bhutanese craftsmen. The most beautiful specimen is found in Simtokha Dzong.
Dzongs are fortresses built at strategic locations. They are large and imposing structures with elegant wood works carved in rich detail adorning the lattices in closed courtyards, staircases and enormous frames of solid blocks of wood that support the heavy slate tiles and shingled roofs. Dzongs throughout Bhutan have a similar pattern with a spacious cobbled stoned courtyard with a central tower in the middle. Monk’s cells and administrative offices linked by passages are built into the walls surrounding the courtyards. Dzongs now serve as the district headquarters of administration and house members of the monastic order.
Typical Bhutanese Houses are built of mud blocks in the ground floor and wooden framework in the upper stories. Usually three storied with a staircase carved out of tree trunks used for access to the upper floors. The entire families sleep in the topmost floor; the middle floor is used to store rations for the family and fodder for the animals. The ground floor houses the animals mainly cows, oxen, pigs, etc. Plastered bamboo lathing is used for partition. The roof made of shingle rests on amaze of slender wooden beams arranged side by side across one another supported by larger beams laid on top of the walls.
Handicraft
The Bhutanese people have developed and mastered the art of producing certain items, which mostly include article of daily use, fashioned out of wood and bamboo. Besides silversmiths, goldsmiths and painters all other articles are made by the peasants themselves in their spare time for their personal use and are usually not meant for the market. However, some may sell it to augment their income. Each region have their specialties. The best place to shop them is Thimphu, where some shops stock variety of handicrafts, which is sold to tourists and local people alike. A list of items which are likely to be found are lacquered wooden plates, bowls and receptacles which may be pain or lined with silver. Bamboo and rattan wares like baskets, conical hats, quivers, mats and bamboo cylinders pierced with a hole for carrying alcohol. Painted wooden masks, carved folding tables, painted in rich colours, cosmic designs and wall panels.
Hand made Bhutanese paper is also very popular among locals and tourist alike used for calligraphic and gift-wrapping. Cards, envelopes, and lampshades fashioned out of it are much in vogue.
Textiles
Bhutanese women are excellent weavers who produce sophisticated fabrics from cotton, silk, yak hair and wool. The art of weaving is highly refined and the fabrics usually come in catchy colours and interesting patterns. The weavers usually use vegetable and mineral based dyes prepared by themselves. The hand woven fabrics of Bhutan are prized for their quality, original geometrical designs, patterns and authenticity. Bags, purses, jackets, shirts and caps made of it, are very unique and attractive.
