Himalayan temple reborn as modern art center in China's Xizang (Tibet) скачать в хорошем качестве

Himalayan temple reborn as modern art center in China's Xizang (Tibet)

订阅频道，获取更多精彩：https://bit.ly/2GzuCVG The Jebum-gang Lha-khang Temple in Lhasa, southwest China's Xizang Autonomous Region (Tibet), has been transformed into a vibrant modern art center. Chinese architect Xia Yujun still remembered the first time he laid eyes on the temple in 2016. "It has a history of approximately 200 years and has murals from the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911)," he said. Nestled in a bustling business street and residential area at an altitude of 3,650 meters, the temple has been a center of energy for the ancient city of Lhasa and an important carrier of local Tibetan culture. Its circular construction, ancient Tibetan pillars and verandas, and centuries-old murals made a deep impression on Xia. First built in the late 19th century, the Jebum-gang Lha-khang Temple is the only mandalic building, featuring a symbolic Buddhist symmetrical structure. After decades of use as a granary, it has been converted into a popular modern art space through a five-year restoration project led by Xia and his team. In 2015, Xia's team was tasked with the conservation project for this Qing Dynasty structure. They began with the top two stories in a state of disrepair, where murals were faded and wooden carvings bore fire damage. With no prior precedent to refer to, he got off to a rough beginning. Xia conducted extensive research, reviewing approximately 30,000 historical photos to understand the original details of the temple's past. He believed that only after comprehending the historical, cultural, and spatial context could an effective restoration plan be created. Once the basic structure was repaired, the team adapted the space for new functions as an art center, ensuring the original architecture and layout remained untouched. The goal was to bring it back to life, Xia said. Xia's passion for ancient architecture began in his childhood in Suzhou, east China's Jiangsu Province, where he was surrounded by classical gardens and museums. He learned painting and calligraphy in his teenage years, often visiting museums and gardens with his teacher. After earning a degree in architectural design in 2013, he specialized in Himalayan architecture in the UK before returning to work in Shanghai in 2015. His expertise led to an invitation to work on restoration projects in Xizang. Having visited the region multiple times during college, Xia was captivated by the vitality of natural growth conveyed by those buildings, which felt entirely different from the gardens of his hometown. This fascination with Himalayan architecture and Tibetan culture drew him back to Xizang in 2016. He described Tibetan ancient architecture as a multi-sensory "5D or 6D" experience, encompassing scent, sound, light, and history. For him, truly understanding these ancient buildings requires immersing oneself in them. He found the Jebum-gang Lha-khang temple to be a perfect site to carry out his ambition of blending Himalayan regional style with modern construction. In addition to restoration work, he has spent eight years extensively researching ancient structures across more than 30 Tibetan counties and cities, contributing to the conservation, restoration, and adaptive reuse of seven historic buildings. Xia stated that his goal is to identify valuable, unused historical buildings in Xizang and repurpose them as art centers or museums. He believed this approach will raise awareness among young people about the ancient building restoration in Xizang and encourage them to join in the sector. (The Chinese term "Xizang" refers to southwest China's Tibet Autonomous Region.)