Problem of identity and changes in the art of the contemporary Tibetan artists from Lhasa on the example of paintings by Gade

The following study aims to describe the transformation of contemporary Tibetan art in Lhasa in correlation with the ever-changing understanding of national identity. This phenomenon can be divided into two phases. During the first phase, lasting for around twenty years since the 1980s, the artists were mostly concerned with the restoration and re-discovery of traditional Tibetan culture. In the second stage, lasting until now, the focus shifted towards the critique of the modern world and the influence that the Cultural Revolution had on the lives of Tibetan people. This subject is presented through the art of Gade. Selected works have been described in detail and analyzed, illustrating the various issues brought up in the article.