A Buddhist Artist in Liverpool

"Being an artist in England is a very different experience to being one in Tibet" says Tenzin Yonten, a young Tibetan artist who has been living in Liverpool since he arrived in the UK in 2004.

‘It's hard to find the right materials that I need to paint my Thankas.’ A Thanka, Tenzin explains, is a traditional Buddhist painting in which artists depict Buddha and other gods and goddesses related to Tibetan Buddhism. This form of art is taught in art schools in Tibet, where Tenzin trained before moving to England.

"When I first came to Liverpool, everything was alien for me, not just the language" Tenzin recalls.

After this initial cultural shock, he was able to establish himself in his new life. In June 2004, he took part in a number of art workshops specifically designed for the social integration of different communities in Liverpool, undertaken by SOLA - a local community arts group. This project was an opportunity for Tenzin to meet people and - most importantly - it helped him to link with other Liverpool artists for the first time.

Since then, Tenzin has exhibited at the Kif Gallery as part of The Long Journey Home group last November. He also started volunteering with SOLA Arts and is now strongly involved and committed to this project. ‘I enjoy helping other people who want to express themselves through the arts’ he says.

As part of a forthcoming SOLA Arts project, Tenzin will have the opportunity of exhibiting his self-portrait in the National Portrait Gallery in September. In the meantime, he is taking part in another SOLA project, that aims to confront the negative media image about refugees and asylum seekers in the UK. This project will happen during Refugee Week 2005 and will be presented to the public through a number of banners displayed in different buildings in Liverpool as well as cards; both containing facts that challenge this perception. Tenzin has found that Liverpool life has been good so far:‘I enjoy being here because things are going well, I am learning new skills but I am also bringing part of my culture to Liverpool. I look forward to new experiences and working with other local artists.’