Preservation and digital documentation of traditional Buddhist art-forms

GANGTOK, 05 May: Tsurphu Labrang, in association with the Kunkyong Charitable Trust, is undertaking a cultural preservation project to document and preserve the traditional art forms of Buddhist Monasteries in the Himalayas. The curtain raiser ceremony of the project was held in Gangtok on Sunday.
As per a press release, the project will be carried out in three phases, the first being a week-long workshop wherein caretakers of the traditional art-forms will be trained in the basic principles of preservation. While the first phase has been funded by Tsurphu Labrang and Kunkyong Charitable Trust, funds for the other two phases are yet to be finalised.
The workshop, to be held at Namgyal Institute of Tibetology from 05-11 May, will be attended by monks, nuns and caretakers from 15 Buddhist institutes. The participants will be trained by five conservation experts from United States of America, Canada and India headed by Ann Shaftel.
The participating institutes are Karma Shri Nalanda Institute, Rumtek; Lava Thekchenling Monastery; Samdrub Dhargeyling Monastery, Sonada; Dolen Kya choling, Salugara; Sa Ngor Gompa, Gangtok; Karma Drupgyudhargayling, Tilokpur, Himachal Pradesh; Sherdup Choekor Ling, Rumtek; 2 Vikas, Rabongla, South Sikkim; Namgyal Institute of Tibetology, Deorali, Gangtok; Guru Kubhum Lhakhang, Deorali; Ecclesiastical Department, Govt. of Sikkim; Phuntsok Ngyab Cholong, Sribadam, West Sikkim; Bokar Ngedon Chokhorling, Mirik; Kunga Rabtenling, Bhutan and; Dupthob Theydho Nunnery, Bhutan.
The release informs that in the second phase, documentation of the existence and condition of the art treasures of Buddhist monasteries, located in remote areas and major centers will be carried out.
Monks and nuns attending the training session will work on inventories in their own monasteries. Teaching Team members will travel to the monastery of each participant in the training session to assist with digital inventory creation. In the final phase of the project, selected treasures of some monasteries will receive conservation treatment by Team members to ensure their longevity for future generations. The conservation treatment emphasizes stabilization (not over-cleaning or over-painting).
The project will also be undertaken in Bhutan, Nepal, India, and Mongolia with appropriate funding, the release mentions.