Artists

Tamding tsetan

Tamding Tsetan, a multi-instrumentalist/singer, and artist (graphics, tattoo, calligraphy), was born in the small village of Widu, in Amdo, Tibet. As a child, he herded his uncle’s sheep across the windswept mountains there. From a young age, he was naturally interested in drawing, painting, and music. In 2002, he made an important decision to escape from Tibet, It took Tamding 43 days to cross the Himalaya Mountains, on foot, in winter. After nearly freezing to death–his skin cracked, and bleeding, from the cold, snow, and winds–he arrived in India–broke, and alone.

Aside from the clothes on his back, the only other things he brought with him, were his desires for freedom, and an education. Over the next few years, Tamding managed to learn the language of his new home, received a formal education as a musician, and studied traditional Tibetan thangka painting, and modern art. In 2006, he released his first album: ‘Open Road’, and also performed for the Dalai Lama. He opened a tattoo parlor, in McLeod Ganj, that year, as well. In 2011, Tamding had an acting part, in the film: ‘Escape from Tibet’. Besides playing the Tibetan dranyen (lute), and flute, he also plays the guitar, and keyboards. His tattooing skills, and designs, are considered to be some of the best, rivaled only by his superlative artistic abilities, and his versatile, powerful singing voice.

Learn more at www.tibetantattoo.ink