This article was also published in Kuensel’s “My Say”  in March 2010 under a different title.

About a week ago, I was touched to see some interesting art on a wall on Norzim Lam. Not only artistic, but very youthful and full of positive messages—dare to dream, don’t give up, and images of young Bhutanese.  Knowing that graffiti is in some form, despite its messages and content, an act of vandalism, I decided I better appreciate it fast, as it might soon disappear. But I was thrilled to find out—the artists had permission from the owners of the wall! Therefore, its no longer graffiti, for graffiti is mainly categorized as a public marking on property without the owner’s consent. Further, there was no way that the images or messages could in anyway be considered offensive or harmful to anyone. Happy was I to learn that Bhutanese artists are using a new approach to inspire the youth of Thimphu. The art was done with obviously no desire for financial compensation or even recognition, just a noble mission to inspire. I was later told by one of the artists that several people approached him and told him that the art was indeed inspirational.  Some claimed that whenever they felt low- dispirited, or depressed they went to the wall looking for comfort, solace, and inspiration. So the mission to inspire through public art worked!

That was, until a few days ago. Read the rest of this entry »

Back in the early 80s, when Bhutan was beginning to pick up momentum in the tourist eye, and tour companies were beginning to cash in, we didn’t have much to offer the tourists when it came to souvenirs. Sure, they could pick up some classic handicrafts here and there, masks, woodcarvings, thangka paintings, or even a kira or a gho. But the “mementos” for Bhutan that we see bursting from every tourist store now—primarily—the range of bags and purses made from Bhutanese textiles hadn’t made it onto the scene yet. Read the rest of this entry »

Yesterday, a friend, who has been working with youth here in Bhutan, counseling them and reaching out to them in the smokey snooker halls, in the alley ways of Hong Kong Market, in the dark dirty corners of our biggest and brightest town buildings, a man inspired by his Buddhist virtue and faith to reach out and spiritually nurture and counsel those most in need, namely, our youth, turned to me and said, “I’ve been trying so hard, but the main problem is, our youth don’t have dreams.” Read the rest of this entry »