gonkar gyatso: 'the shambala in modern times' at venice art biennale 09

‘the shambala in modern times’, 2008 stickers, pencil, paper cut on treated paper 200 x 200 cm © gonkar gyatso

although tibetan artist gonkar gyatso does not define himself as a social critic, there is no mistaking the political commentary and gentle rebuke that emanates from all his artwork. the artist represents traditional visual motifs, such as the iconographic structure of thangka painting, in an apparently light-hearted vein.

‘the shambala in modern times’, 2008 stickers, paper-cuts, pencil, ink on treated paper image © designboom

‘the shambala in modern times’, 2008 stickers, paper-cuts, pencil, ink on treated paper image © designboom

detail image © designboom

detail image © designboom

detail image © designboom

four elements- element 2, 2009 pencil, ink on treated paper image © designboom

four elements- element 4, 2009 pencil, ink on treated paper image © designboom

four elements- element 1, 2009 pencil, ink on treated paper image © designboom

four elements- element 3, 2009 pencil, ink on treated paper image © designboom

gonkar gyatso (b.tibet, 1961) lives and works in london.