Murals of Tibet: a jewel of the Tibetan culture

Tibet House Foundation of Barcelona, as a reference place of the Tibetan culture in our country, aims to purchase one copy of Murals of Tibet with the purpose of keeping it in permanent display, so the largest possible number of people can enjoy such a unique collection of Tibetan art.

'Murals of Tibet' is published by Editorial Taschen in Summum format (50 x 70 cm), with photos by Tomas Laird.

Being an especial edition for collectors, the price of this work is too high for us (10,000 euros) and we cannot afford it. Thus we are using this platform to reach our goal and your cooperation is fundamental.

In the event we reached our goal, the patrons will have full priority in enjoying this sublime work of art.

How it all started

In June 2018 TASCHEN gave us the opportunity to exhibit, for the first time in our country, 'Murals of Tibet' presented by its author, Thomas Laird. We were immediately aware of the historical importance of the work and the unique opportunity to acquire such a valuable document, not only of Tibetan art but also of its millenary philosophy.

Both the publisher and the requests received from people who saw the book, encouraged us and so we decided to start this campaign to be able to purchase one copy of this work.

Origin of Thomas Laird's project

Thomas Laird had been travelling to Tibet for over 12 years. His mission was to capture the spiritual, emotional and historical meaning of these unknown masterpieces. To carry out his project he had to overcome many difficulties such as the poor lighting in the temples and other logistical challenges (these works are painted on walls that can reach up to 10 meters high). Thomas Laird developed a technique of multiple images which allowed him to reproduce these works of art with exceptional detail. His hard work resulted in the first full-scale reproductions of Tibet’s murals and made it possible for everyone to enjoy works that were almost invisible.

The work consists of 498 pages and 6 fold-out sections. It is printed in 5 colours, including gold. It comes with foldable lectern designed by the architect, humanitarian activist and Pritzker prize winner, Shigeru Ban. The work comes with a 528-page guide in which writer and Buddhist scholar Prof. Robert Thurman thoroughly describes the spiritual meaning of the murals while the experts Heather Stoddard and Jakob Winkler.

Every copy of 'Murals of Tibet' has been signed and blessed by His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama. TASCHEN made a donation to Mind & Life Institute on behalf of His Holiness as a sign of gratitude. The mission of Mind & Life is to integrate science and meditative practices. The foundation sponsors investigations to study how the brain, health and human behavior can be transformed by meditation. The institute defends the idea of reacting to the challenges of life with less anger and more resilience and compassion. According to the Dalai Lama this path is very important for humanity, for our own survival and for the future of our planet.

Many of these murals, despite the measures taken to preserve them, will vanish in the next few centuries. In fact some of the murals shown in this work no longer exist now, but the book will remain and will be treasured and enjoyed by future generations.

As explained by the Dalai Lama, these murals are not only objects full of artistic beauty but they are used as reference and guidance by Buddhism, yoga and meditation practitioners, as well as anyone who wishes to include mindfulness in his/her daily life. This book is a majestic masterpiece fusing contemporary photographic technology with ancestral traditions. It is a key element to understand Buddhism, a tribute to the Tibetan culture and a source of inspiration for science and contemplative arts.

About the rewards

Any solidarity contribution will be welcome!

Contributions will have the following rewards:

• Publication of your name (if you agree) in the web of Tibet House Foundation

• A teaser with 16 pages SUMMUN size (50 x 70 cm), printed on 200 grams paper with a summary of the work

• A video of the documentary “Peace and Spirituality“ about His Holiness the Dalai Lama produced by Jordi Llompart and/or a quotation from the Dalai Lama printed on fabric to hang on the wall

• Invitation to the act of thanking all the patrons for their contribution and presentation of their rewards, at the Tibet House Foundation.

Who we are

His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama inaugurated the first headquarters of Tibet House Foundation in December 1994 and the second and current one (Rosselló 181 – 08036 Barcelona) in September 2007.

We are a non-profit, cultural and solidary association with the aim to introduce in our country the native Tibetan culture in its different manifestations and its potential contribution to the current modern society.

We organize cultural events, bring well-known masters of different traditions to give teachings, we promote the support and solidarity with the Tibetan people, both in Tibet and in exile, by means of cooperation and development projects and sponsorship.

Use of your contributions

Verkami will be the only source to finance the project and the amount raised will be exclusively allocated to purchase this work and to cover the expenses to use this platform and also the patron´s rewards.

Schedule

One month after having reached our goal, we will organize an act at Tibetan House Foundation to thank all the patrons and present them with their rewards (if you do not live in Barcelona, you will receive your reward by post).

+ Info

http://casadeltibetbcn.org
https://twitter.com/casadeltibet https://www.facebook.com/casadeltibet
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCUl7H9WJlmTLoLmOaAiD7rA
https://www.taschen.com/pages/es/company/blog/1225.empieza_el_viaje_de_murals_of_tibet.htm

Videos

Presentation of 'Murals of Tibet'

Conversation with Richard Gere

Podcast

[Soundcloud item unavailable]

All the details about the book in this link

QUOTES

“A Herculean task. This is something that has never been done in such quality. It is a monument to Tibetan and Buddhist heritage.”
— Matthieu Ricard

“A treasure of immeasurable artistic, cultural, historical and spiritual importance.”
— Simon de Pury

“Murals are notoriously difficult to photograph. Some of them are varnished, some of them are very high. In certain monasteries, there is no lighting or electricity. You need a serious dose of determination to embark on such work.”
— Matthieu Ricard