To create opportunities and platforms for artists to showcase their artworks, Drukpro Bhutan is collaborating with Bhutanese contemporary artists and traditionally skilled weavers. Drukpro Bhutan is a new entrepreneurial venture bringing together artists and weavers for collaboration. The enterprise uses mediums such as t-shirts and silk scarves among others to print artworks of the artists and weavers.
Drukpro Bhutan is trying to explore and diversify means to promote Bhutan and its values by printing artworks that range from Bhutanese intricate textiles to contemporary artworks. It also attempts to bring the otherwise pricey artworks closer to people at a reasonable price and make it relevant.
“Drukpro Bhutan is actually a work of a lot of creative people. So 11 months ago, me and my wife Chimi Zangmo, we thought that it’s important for us and also a lot of our friends who are into the creative field to have a platform where we can display our products. But when it comes to products we thought that it’s so important for us to add value to the products and make it worth for somebody who actually buys it,” said karma Thinley Dorji, the promoter of Drukpro Bhutan.
Drukpro Bhutan launched its products earlier this month. For now, it plans to be a limited edition venture trying to focus on quality.
“Something interesting about this outlet and the products here is that we are trying to keep these products in a limited time of six months. Why? Not because it’s very limited, it’s more because we want to create creativity within ourselves. As artists we want them to produce more. As artisans we want them to weave more. At this moment we are limited to just artists and artisans. But in future we are also thinking about woodworks, we are also thinking about ceramics to collaborate with the artists,” added karma.
The printing works on the merchandise are done in Vietnam and Bangkok. 50 per cent of the net proceeds from the sale of the products goes directly to the artist who created it. The purchase of the pieces will also support the livelihoods of the weavers who preserve the aesthetics integrity of the weaving traditions.
Sonam Pem
