Buddhist monasteries in Bhutan are highly regarded. As the country slowly draws tourists to discover some of its hidden treasures, experts have arrived to help preserve the incredible and largely unknown paintings of the region.
Bhutan is one of the poorest countries in the world.on the other hand, Located at the foot of the majestic Himalayas, it is a trekking paradise. The local centuries-old monasteries are often difficult to access, and while some are open to the public, most remain largely untouchedHowever, experts from the Courtauld Institute in London have been called in to help preserve the abbey and its unique paintings.
Most of the paintings date from the 16th to 19th centuries and, as Professor David Park of the Courtauld Institute says, they are absolutely stunning. Most of these paintings are unknown, and experts agree that their artistic value is enormousThey praised the skill of detail achieved through unique layers of color and coating, and, to the surprise of many, some of the paintings spanned over a hundred square meters.
Bhutan’s culture ministry expresses concern over condition of some paintings and allows experts to collaborate for three years Funded anonymously by an American sponsor. The aim is to determine the extent and rate of degradation of these paintings, as well as effective methods of preserving them. After all, with tourists comes apprehension, and Bhutan is well aware of the value of its famous monasteries.
