On 29th of April 2021 Pimpim de Azevedo was invited to talk at the Orientations Art Circle / Asia Society Lecture Series - ‘[Webcast Only] Preserving Nyarma, a Buddhist Monastery Complex in Ladakh’. The talk was moderated by Yifawn Lee, the publisher and editor of Orientations.
“Nyarma is an enormous monastery complex founded around 1000 in Ladakh or ‘land of the high passes’. Ladakh is a region administered by India as a union territory that lies west of Tibet, north of Lahaul and Spiti and east of Kashmir, which is renowned for its breath-taking landscapes, crystal clear skies, and Buddhist monasteries and festivals. Nyarma is an important site as it marks the beginnings of Tibetan Buddhism in the region. Unfortunately, its architectural splendour and mural paintings lies almost in ruins today. We speak to two Orientations contributors, Gerald Kozicz and Pimpim de Azevedo, on the draw of Ladakh, the importance of Nyarma and conservation efforts to preserve the complex.”