Transcending Tibet:
Mapping Contemporary Tibetan Art in the Global Context
March 14–April 18, 2015
Live auction: April 9
Rogue Space Chelsea
508 West 26th Street, 9E–F
New York, NY 10001
Trace Foundation, in partnership with Arthub, is pleased to announce a landmark exhibition to take place March 14 to April 12, at Rogue Space Chelsea in New York City. Coinciding with Asia Week New York, this contemporary Tibetan art exhibition will feature the new commissioned works of 30 artists in response to the question, What does it mean to be Tibetan today?
For a culture as diverse and dispersed as any on the planet, this is no easy question. Over the past few decades, Tibetan artists have been exploring their own answers, digesting the techniques and sensibilities of the Tibetan tradition, and mixing them with contemporary personal styles and materials that would be difficult to define as simply Tibetan. Trace Foundation has been at the forefront of this new art scene, proudly supporting these emerging artists with grants and scholarships.
While acknowledging the exoticism that Tibet has long inspired in the Western imagination, this exhibition shows how artists are transcending this tradition, moving beyond a simple ethnic existence, to develop a much more complex global phenomenon. The exhibition represents an important turning point in the history of how contemporary Tibetan art has been presented so far—exploring both the complex history of Tibet and the ways contemporary Tibet is not only a phenomenon of exile but also alive and well on the Tibetan Plateau.
Transcending Tibet introduces a large selection of artists whose artwork maps the complexity of the Tibetan contemporary art movement, and shows how internationalism has created a rich range of styles—appropriating from and influenced by a multitude of places, traditions, and contexts. Participating artists represent a wide array of points in their careers, from emerging to established.
Participating artists: Benchung, Ga Qin, Gade, Gonkar Gyatso, Jhamsang, Kesang Lamdark, Livia Liverani, Losang Gyatso, Michela Martello, Mirella Virgili, Nortse, Nyima Dhondup, Pema Rinzin, Pempa, Phuntsok Tsering, Rabkar Wangchuk, Rima Fujita, Sodhon, Sonam Dolma Brauen, Tashi Norbu (Amsterdam), Tashi Norbu (Lhasa), Tashi Phuntsok, Tenzin Norbu, Tenzin Phakmo, Tenzing Rigdol, TseKal, Tserang Dhondup, Tseren Dolma, Tsering Nyandak, and Tülkü Jamyang, with a special video presentation by Lu Yang (in collaboration with FarEastFarWest Collection, Museum of Contemporary Photography Chicago), Tsering Tashi and Charwai Tsai
The exhibition will be accompanied by a full-color catalog in English, Tibetan, and Chinese, with contributions by contemporary Tibetan art scholar Leigh Miller, Founder and Director of Arthub Davide Quadrio, Chief Curator Emeritus of the Rubin Museum of Art Martin Brauen; as well as artists Gade and Benchung.
An online auction through Paddle8 will culminate in a cocktail reception and live auction on the evening of April 9, featuring work of the artists as well as line of limited-edition fashion pieces. Created in collaboration with Negri Firman PR & Communication, these “Fashion for Tibet” items are donated by internationally renowned designers and brands taking inspiration from the exhibition. To date, these include: Acquilano Rimondi, Angelos Bratis, Antonio Marras, Arthur Arbesser, Corto Moltedo, Costume National, Diesel, Federica Moretti, Gentucca Bini, Giuliana Michelotti, Moncler, Nathalie Jean with Rudy Prampolini, Maliparmi, Matteo Thiela, Mr&mRs Italy, mYak, Piazza Sempione, Sergio Colantuoni, Suno and Tory Burch. Tickets to the auction are available for purchase through events@trace.org or by calling T +1 212 367 7380 x38, with proceeds benefitting the foundation’s ongoing work with Tibetan communities.
Transcending Tibet is curated by Davide Quadrio.
Organized and directed by Paola Vanzo.
Further details and sample images are available here.
For high-resolution images, photos, and interview opportunities, contact Johnathan Wilber:
jwilber [at] trace.org / T +1 212 367 7380.
Trace Foundation
132 Perry Street, Suite 2B
New York, NY 10014
