Connections in the Making and Meaning of the Art of Bhutan and Tibet in the 17 th and 18 th Centuries: A Study of the Wall Paintings at Tango Monastery

Pu Lan discusses her PhD project, which explores the 17th-century Monastery of Tango and how it illustrates the development of wall painting technology in Bhutan The Kingdom of Bhutan retains an exceptional heritage of Buddhist wall paintings dating from the early 16 th century to the present. As one of the most significant sites the Utse (central tower) of Tango Monastery, established in 1688 presented itself as a unique demonstration of wall painting development and changes since the 17th century to the present. Scientific analysis provided the opportunity to understand the paintings from a perspective of making, answering questions such as how the painting was made and what materials were used. Further comparative studies helped draw the timeline of renovation phases and re-establish the building history when literature records were incomplete. This talk will use Tango Utse to describe the changes in wall painting technology in Bhutan from the 17th century to the present day.