I love giving unique gifts, those mementos that someone wouldn’t or couldn’t get for otherwise. They are a much more personal way of telling the people I care about that I put thought and time into selecting something instead of just loading up the Taobao cart.
Recently, I discovered a treasure trove of unique and personal gifts, and to make the giving that much sweeter it all goes to a good cause. Allow me to introduce you to Snowland Art.
In 2010 a Canadian expat named Kristel Ouwehand – aka Tenzin Dolma – established the Tibetan Artists’ Development Company. It is a five-year art and handcraft training school devoted to maintaining the integrity of the art of Thangka, in which students come to live and study the Buddhist art form. According to the website, “The school only takes a small number of students, with a focus on quality rather than quantity… Kristel and her students go through all the exam papers, and each student gives his/her view as to which two or three applicants they would choose to accept.”
It’s a completely democratic process. What’s more, because so many applicants come from humble backgrounds the tuition for the entire five-year program is only RMB 500. All other operating costs are supplemented through donations and the sale of student work via Snowland Art Studios.
The students make incredible work from portraits to hand-painted ornaments featuring family pets and original decorative pillows to jewelry with intricate Tibetan designs. No tracing is permitted, guaranteeing that each piece is one-of-a-kind and special.
You can see more of the incredible work these students produce on Snowland’s website, or you can join the WeChat group by scanning the QR code below.
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Images: Courtesy of Snowland Art
