Some stories are not written in words. They are painted, layer by layer, in colour, patience, and imagination. For twin brothers Tashi Dendup and Ugyen Samdrup, art has been the language of their shared life since childhood. What began as playful sketches on walls and scraps of paper has now grown into something far bigger: Twinz Art Gallery, a new creative space in Thimphu where their artistic worlds meet.
The gallery was inaugurated on Saturday by Her Royal Highness Princess Sonam Dechan Wangchuck, marking a significant moment not only for the brothers but also for Bhutan’s evolving contemporary art scene.
Step inside the gallery, and it feels less like entering a room and more like stepping into a living canvas.
The walls bloom with colour and movement. Mythical warriors stand poised in quiet strength. Spiritual guardians gaze outward with timeless calm.
Ancient Bhutanese symbols weave through bold strokes and intricate details, blending spirituality, mythology and imagination. Each painting seems to open a window into the Himalayan world, where tradition and creativity flow together like pigments on a palette.
But for the twin artists, the gallery is more than just a place to display paintings.
It is the latest chapter of a story that began with a pencil, a wall, and a child’s curiosity.
“We were interested in art since we were five or six years old,” said Tashi Dendup, recalling their earliest memories of drawing.“We used to draw on walls, copy pictures from magazines, and even paint portraits of our family members.”
Like two brushstrokes forming the same image, the brothers’ journey unfolded side by side.
What began as childhood curiosity slowly evolved into a shared calling. Encouraged by their passion, both brothers pursued a Bachelor’s Degree in Fine Arts in India, refining the craft that had already become part of their identity.
Over the years, their artwork travelled far beyond their studio walls.
The twins participated in two international group exhibitions and organised three solo exhibitions, gradually building recognition for their distinctive style, one that blends Bhutanese symbolism with contemporary artistic expression.
Yet for all the recognition their work received, their creative world remained confined within the modest walls of a small studio.
“Until now, we used to entertain art lovers in our small studio room,” said Ugyen Samdrup.
“So we felt the need for a bigger and more professional space where visitors could properly experience our work.”
That vision has now taken shape in the form of Twinz Art Gallery.
The gallery represents more than just a new address for their paintings. It is the frame that holds years of imagination, discipline, and quiet persistence.
Inside, every artwork carries echoes of the brothers’ journey, from childhood sketches drawn in curiosity to pieces that have travelled to international exhibitions.
And like twin brushstrokes shaping a single masterpiece, Tashi Dendup and Ugyen Samdrup continue to paint their story together.
Through their gallery, they are now inviting others to step into that story –
one colour, one symbol, and one canvas at a time.
Sangay Chozom
Edited by Sonam Wangdi
