National 9 (Spotlight Weekly)

Magical Vistas

Photographer Chhime Dorji captures the grandeur of Bhutan

By BINITA PANDEY

Vistas of virgin land through the use of the highly inspirational medium of photography were on display at a solo exhibition by Bhutanese artist Chhime Dorji at Gallery 9 in Lazimpat recently. A vast bank of photographs taken over years was promoted as "Alpine Flowers From Bhutan". The exhibition, consisting of 46 photographs, was opened on May 16 and continued until May 28.

Spring is almost over, soon the warmth of the summer and the rains from the monsoon will bring life to alpine meadows in Bhutan; the delicate tiny gentians shivering in cold breeze, the primroses, the grand rhuems, noble blue poppy, all rule the hillside, waving and dancing for anyone who caresto observe them in their joy of life .The splendor of these sights in the fond of the mighty Himalayas is in peak orchestration by July .It is during this time of year Dorji has, over ten years and five treks, captured these wonderful and rare flowers of Bhutanese Himalayas on camera.

"These photographs were not taken for any serious research or academic study but rather for their sheer beauty and magical charm, as Nepal and Bhutan share a similar geographical location, I believe the flowers on display will be a refreshing reminder of the rich natural heritage common to both countries", said Dorji.

The additional importance of the exhibition lies in the fact that some of photographs bring forth Bhutan's landscape, architecture and culture. Dorji, born in 1960, is a self-taught freelance artist living in Thimphu, who has become well known both in the country and among art lovers around the world for his stylized paintings on Bhutanese subjects and Buddhist iconography.

His works have a strong relationship with vajrayana Buddhism, which teaches reverence for the natural world and all forms of life. He is the first artist in Bhutan to work with video as a medium and is a photographer; he holds exhibitions twice a year in spring and in autumn coinciding with the local religious festivals in Bhutan. He has participated in various artist workshops and residencies, and has displayed his works in various parts of Asia and Europe.

The beauty of the photographs lies in the fact that although they are printed on paper they appear as if they were abstract work of art. "Taking snaps of flowers is my style of appreciating nature," Dorji said. He added that inspiration came from living in Thimpu and in embarking numerous trekking tours. Yet another source of inspiration is medicinal value of plants. There is a ring around his photographs that gives an impression as if in one is in a fairyland. So much so that† it borders on mysticism.