Precious Objects
Gade
嘎德
Production date
2007
Object Detail
Media
mineral pigments and gold on fabric
Measurements
200 x 115 cm
Notes
Gade’s work negotiates the complicated territory of a contemporary Tibetan identity. He satirises western fetishism towards Tibet as a spiritual mecca, and pokes fun at the new consumerism of Tibetan culture, whilst retaining his deep respect for its traditions of art and culture. He says, ‘My generation has grown up with Thangka painting, martial arts, Hollywood movies, Mickey Mouse, Charlie Chaplin, Rock n' Roll and McDonalds. We still don't know where the spiritual homeland is – New York, Beijing or Lhasa. We wear Jeans and T-shirts and when we drink a Budweiser it is only occasionally that we talk about "Buddhahood" … I think Lhasa ought to be renamed Lhasa Vegas.’ In a traditional thangka painting, images of the Buddha would be seated on these thrones. Instead, Gade shows objects from modern daily life, from toilet paper to television sets. A urinal is a homage to the Dada artist Marcel Duchamp, a sly reminder that Gade is as knowledgeable about western art history as he is immersed in traditions of Tibetan and Chinese painting.
Accession number
2007.034