The Lungta Art Festival 2026 is bringing traditional weaving and contemporary art together through an exhibition by Bhutanese contemporary artist Kunzang Wangmo, featuring 35 artworks alongside handwoven fabric made by her 83-year-old mother-in-law.
The festival opened on Tuesday at VAST Bhutan Art Centre in Thimphu and will run until next month. Around eight Bhutanese artists are participating, each presenting a solo exhibition.
Kunzang Wangmo’s first solo exhibition, titled Tendrel, brings together her contemporary drawings and paintings with the delicate handwoven fabric produced by her mother-in-law, who continues to weave every day despite her age.
Wangmo said her mother-in-law remains deeply committed to weaving, waking up every morning eager to make a Kira despite difficulties with her eyesight and hearing.
“I have ordered many Kiras from her, and I am also deeply interested in materials. Because of her age, her weaving is fragile, but I see immense beauty in that fragility. I feel it pairs perfectly with my artwork,” said Kunzang Wangmo.
For Wangmo, the woven fabric represents more than a traditional craft. It reflects interdependence, connection and the meeting of generations. She said that although contemporary art is still relatively new in Bhutan, audiences are increasingly interested in what artists have to offer.
Wangmo’s interest in art began during her childhood, when she watched her father, a civil engineer, draw house designs. Her interest developed further during her school years.
In 2006, she gained recognition in an open art competition titled Being Young is Tough. She followed this with another exhibition in 2007.
Her artistic journey has since led her to explore the intersection of traditional and contemporary art.
Explaining the ideas behind her work, Wangmo said some of her pieces explore the nature of the mind through interactive elements that reveal hidden details when the lights are turned on.
“The mind is something that exists, yet you cannot physically point to it. Some of my pieces are interactive. They appear plain when the lights are off, but once turned on, hidden details emerge. From a distance, it looks simple, but as you approach, you discover deeper layers. Conceptually, I think Lungta embodies this exact idea,” she said.
Through Tendrel, Wangmo brings traditional weaving and contemporary artistic expression into one space, highlighting the connection between generations and different forms of art.
Pelden Wangchuk
Edited by Passang
