Fabric of Life - Textile Arts in Bhutan: Culture, Tradition and Transformation

Karin Altmann

Published by De Gruyter 2016

Fabric of Life - Textile Arts in Bhutan

Culture, Tradition and Transformation

Karin Altmann

In the series Edition Angewandte

https://doi.org/10.1515/9783110428612

Overview
Contents

About this book

Textile Art in Bhutan: New Insights

This extensive work dedicated to the unique textile art of Bhutan is an impressive illustration of how closely art, spirituality, and life are interwoven in the last of the Buddhist kingdoms in the Himalayas. It gives new insight into Bhutanese cosmology, worldview, culture, and society, which is associated with a variety of historical, philosophical, religious, social, and artistic perspectives.

The remote mountain location, low-key foreign policy, and basic principles of Buddhism has made it possible for Bhutan, the last of the Buddhist kingdoms in the Himalayas, to preserve a remarkable form of textile art that is interwoven with all aspects of life.

Karin Altmann shows us Bhutan textiles in their diversity: they are clothes and everyday objects, currency and commodity, mark important events as gifts during life, and are testament to the social status of a person. But they are also an integral aspect of religious festivals, dances, and rituals that provide insight into the mystical and religious beliefs of the Bhutanese people, and reflect the concept of gender in Bhutanese society. The book also tells the story of a country that is searching for a sensitive balance between tradition and progress in a globalized world.

Comprehensive presentation of textile art and how it interweaves with all aspects of life
Fascinating insight into how art, spirituality, and social life are interwoven
A complex and knowledgeable book with impressive pictures

Author / Editor information

Karin Altmann, University of Applied Arts, Vienna, Austria

Supplementary Materials

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Topics

Frontmatter Publicly Available Download PDF	1
Contents Publicly Available Download PDF	5
Introduction Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	6
Textiles in the Cultural History of Bhutan Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	9
Bon and Buddhism Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	91
Colours, Threads and Cloths in Ritual Contexts Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	105
Sacred Festivals and Dances Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	121
Jampe Lhakhang Drup – A Case Study Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	133
Cham Lineages and Dance Costumes of Bhutan Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	183
The Production of Textiles Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	233
Creativity and Tradition – Positioning Textile Art between Freedom of Artistic Expression and Subjection to Strict Rules Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	289
Textiles and Mysticism Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	303
Gender-Specific Attribution in Bhutanese Society Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	309
The Importance of Textiles to the Life of Society and Individuals Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	329
Bhutan's Textile Art in Transition Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	359
Prospects: Textile Art as a Cultural Heritage for Young People in Bhutan? Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	391
Epilogue Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	414
Acknowledgments Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	417
Appendix Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	419
Glossary Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	420
References Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	432
Imprint Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	435

(Deutsch)

Language: English
Publisher: De Gruyter
Audience: Textile artists, fashion and textile designers, social scientists and humanists interested in art and culture
Pages
- Main content: 432
Illustrations
- Coloured Illustrations: 250
Keywords: Bhutan; Textilkunst; Kulturgeschichte; Tanz; Bön und Buddhismus

eBook

Published: November 27, 2015
ISBN: 9783110428612