FOUR Thangka paintings by Golug Sherap, an artist from Xiahe Labuleng Moibao Tibetan Culture and Art Center, Gansu Province, attracted many visitors at this year's ICIF.

"It took me two years to finish this painting named "Treasure King." Before you start, you need a week or even a month to meditate, then your draw the lines and paint them with Tibetan paints, which are mainly natural minerals and golden power," said Sherap on Friday.

A visitor offered 200,000 yuan (US$26,000) for "Treasure King," but Sherap turned him down, saying the painting cannot be sold at present.

The name Sherap literally means "the seas of wisdom." His paintings are full of wisdom, just as his name suggests.

Sherap's works mainly comprise images of the Buddha, and life stories of eminent monks. They display a rich imagination and excellent painting skills.

Sherap, 46, has been painting Thangkas for more than 20 years, and has so far produced more than 400. His portrait of the 10th Panchen Lama was awarded the World Genius Prize in 1999.

"Thangka, a wonderful pearl on the crown of Tibetan art, is the history book of Tibet. It is easy to find the thread of the development of Tibetan history," said Sherap.

Sherap's Thangkas can be found in many famous Tibetan temples. In April 2005, he held a Thangka exhibition in Hubei, the first Tibetan artist to hold a solo exhibition.

"The pigment used in Thangkas is totally made by hand and is composed of natural minerals and rare plant. It is high in purity and strong in adherence. Because of this, the Thangkas can be kept for thousands of years without any change in color and can become rare treasures over centuries," he said.

Sherap is one of the two exhibitors from Tibet showing Thangkas at the fair.

To help young people take up painting Thangkas, Sherap had raised 5 million yuan to establish a Thangka art center, which is expected to open in July.

Editor: Wing