Editor's Introduction: Reimagining Himalayan Art and Culture: Visuality, Tradition, and Modern Transformation
Abstract
This special section explores the dynamic transformations of Himalayan art and culture through interdisciplinary perspectives encompassing art history, visual studies, religious studies, media studies, and cultural heritage research. Moving beyond the conventional understanding of Himalayan visual culture as a static expression of religious tradition, the section examines how artistic forms continuously negotiate changing relationships among political authority, belief systems, cultural identity, and technological innovation. The four contributions investigate diverse topics, including the political symbolism of imperial and religious portraiture, the preservation and contemporary transformation of Thangka art, the reinterpretation of Tibetan visual languages in modern artistic practices, and the mediation of Tibetan identity through televised cultural performances. Together, these studies reveal how Himalayan visual culture functions not only as a record of historical memory but also as an active medium for constructing legitimacy, expressing creativity, and reshaping collective identities. By bringing historical analysis, contemporary practice, and cultural transmission into dialogue, this special section highlights the fluidity and resilience of Himalayan art in responding to social change and globalization. It aims to expand interdisciplinary discussions on how visual culture bridges tradition and modernity, sacred heritage and public representation, within the Himalayan world.