Monk Understudies

Monk UnderstudiesThe Royal Academy of Performing Arts was founded in 1954 by King Jigme Dorji Wangchuck. Traditionally, the Lhamoi Drubchen dances go back centuries and have a deep spiritual significance, performed as an act of religious ritual and practice and not as a piece of entertainment. The insertion of laymen, such as this dancer, performing folk dances is a modern addition. The sacred Drubchen dances in the Tantric Buddhist tradition are a skillful means of

The Royal Academy of Performing Arts was founded in 1954 by King Jigme Dorji Wangchuck. Traditionally, the Lhamoi Drubchen dances go back centuries and have a deep spiritual significance, performed as an act of religious ritual and practice and not as a piece of entertainment. The insertion of laymen, such as this dancer, performing folk dances is a modern addition.

The sacred Drubchen dances in the Tantric Buddhist tradition are a skillful means of teaching Dharma through vajra ritual. They require natural ability and many years of physical and spiritual training. The wide variety of dance styles and dance steps need enhanced levels of strength, precision, and stamina. The monks are taught to discard all notions of ordinary self and assume the divine pride of the deity whose dance they are performing.

The dances are considered mandalas. Performing in circles with the monks often spinning, the dancers symbolize reality's circular nature and reveal the unifying consciousness that can only be found within. Tantric Buddhist precepts hold that vision creates thought, thought creates action, and action creates our world.

PHOTO PRINTS
Prints are on Hahnemuhle heavyweight (315 gsm) 100% archival cotton “Photo Rag Baryta” paper, using archival inks and archival spray coating. They have a 200-year life expectancy before any deterioration of the print will be observed when stored, handled, and displayed under archival conditions.

CANVAS PRINTS
What is often called “Gallery Wrap Canvas” is a fine art inkjet (Giclee) print on canvas, with printed edges to wrap around a wooden stretcher frame, like a painting. With canvas prints, your print image is still the same size, but given a "wrap effect" around the edges to account for the thickness of the stretcher. Canvas can be rolled and shipped with no effect to the print. Your local framing shop should be able to mount the canvas to stretchers at a fraction of the cost of traditional framing, making for an overall more economical way to get fine art on your wall. The canvas is printed to wrap around a 1-inch stretcher (1.5 inches on larger sizes). Specifications will be provided with your order. Feel free to contact us if you need guidance with your canvas order.

John prints, titles, dates, and signs all of his photos.

CUSTOM ORDERS: For custom orders of prints shipped flat, framed, or as stretched canvas, contact [email protected].