Built in Bronze: The Artisans of Khyenle

Join us on Tuesday, August 23rd for a rare opportunity to meet the artists behind a unique tradition. The Khyenle bronze workers of Derge are the inheritors of a traditional Tibetan art--metalwork based on wax and sand-casting--that has continued through five generations. With hand-crafted works that range from statues to jewelry, Khyenle (the name of both the company and the bronzework style) emphasizes the need for creativity that operates on a spiritual level as well as an aesthetic one. We are pleased to showcase these unique artists in an event where they will discuss and demonstrate the intricacies of their work and the vulnerability of their craft. This is Khyenle’s first time visiting the United States, and the rarity of seeing Tibetan metal artisans discuss their work abroad makes this visit a truly exceptional occasion.

Nima is the owner and Chief Master of Khyenle, a company that emphasizes the necessity of generating work in the community, and makes a point of creating artwork in Tibet, by Tibetans. He is the sixth generation of bronze craftsmen. He has been sculpting and smithing since he was a child, and is known for his fidelity to detail in his pieces.

Dawa Dakpa decided to follow in his father Nima’s footsteps and is now the Chief Designer at Khyenle. He began learning the principles of Khyenle as a teenager and believes that work in the arts fortifies cultural expression by providing a connection to the past in a modernizing world.

Dawa Dolma is Nima’s daughter and will act as the translator for Nima and Dakpa. In her own right she is a photographer and filmmaker whose short documentary film "White Lies" was recognized at the International Micro-Film Festival.

This event is free but seats are limited, so please register at events@trace.org if you are interested in attending.