The Ink Road
Tibet
With Tiffani Gyatso
&Catarina Gushiken
June 2 - 16. 2025
Immerse yourself in the timeless beauty of Chinese and Tibetan art. Journey through historic cities, ascend to the Tibetan Plateau, and discover sacred temples, ancient caves, and the living legacy of the last artists from an ancestral lineage from whom we will be learning from. Guided by the inspired vision of Tiffani Gyatso and Catarina Gushiken, this experience invites you for a deep immersion in your own creative and curious inner artist.
“Remember that happiness is a way of travel –
not a destination.” – Roy M. Goodman
The Ink Road
Art and artist of Tibet
With Tiffani Gyatso and Catarina Gushiken
June 2th to 16th, 2025
"A Journey Through the Cultural and Spiritual Heart of Tibet: Sichuan and Its Hidden Treasures"
Our journey begins in Chengdu, the gateway to Tibet and a city known for its vibrant atmosphere and traditional teahouses. Here, we will visit the legendary teahouses, where the ritual of tea blends seamlessly with the daily life of the locals, offering an authentic immersion into Chinese culture. We will also explore the Wenshu Monastery, one of the best-preserved Buddhist temples in Chengdu, where religious art is present in every architectural detail and in the ancient scriptures preserved in its archives.
Above pictures: artists and streets of Chengdu
Leaving Chengdu, we will enter the Dzogchen region, one of the most important centers for Vajrayana Buddhist teachings. The visit to Dzogchen Monastery will transport us into a world of spirituality and contemplation, where monks and practitioners devote their lives to study and meditation. Founded in the 17th century, the monastery is one of the six main monasteries of the Nyingma tradition, surrounded by breathtaking landscapes of valleys and mountains that seem to echo the prayers chanted in its halls.
In the surroundings of Dzogchen, we will explore mystical caves, ancient retreat sites of great spiritual masters. These natural sanctuaries, carved by nature itself, are little known to tourists and retain an aura of mystery and reverence. Many Tibetan lamas and meditators have spent years in retreat within these caves, seeking enlightenment and deep knowledge.
Our next stop will be the town of Derge, home to one of the most important traditional printing houses in Tibet: the Derge Parkhang (Derge Printing House). Founded in the 18th century, this institution still preserves the manual technique of printing sacred Buddhist texts using hand-carved wooden blocks. The printing house not only safeguards the Dharma tradition but also stands as a living testament to the intersection of Tibetan art, culture, and spirituality.
MYSTICAL TIBET – ART AS A YOGA
Finally, we head to the enchanting Maisu Valley, in Dzongsar — a true refuge for Tibetan artists and artisans. A remote village in western Sichuan (Kham), Dzongsar in the Maisu Valley is home to a thriving community of Tibetan artisans who have harnessed the power of cultural heritage to create a vibrant and sustainable way of life. With more than 1,000 artisans working in 27 workshops, the village specializes in traditional Tibetan crafts such as lost-wax metal casting, ceramics, thangka painting, tailoring, and wood carving. These activities not only provide a livelihood but also foster flexibility and stability for the residents. Moreover, they indirectly support other cultural traditions such as yak herding, butter production, and traditional music.
The artisan economy of Maisu (Dzongsar), deeply rooted in Tibetan Buddhism, has become a powerful symbol of cultural vitality — celebrating the rich heritage and enduring traditions of this extraordinary community.
This experience goes far beyond a simple journey; it is an invitation to authentically explore Tibet, its art, and its spirituality. A rare and transformative path that connects us to the cultural roots of a people and leads us into profound and genuine learning — directly at the source.
Finally, we'll continue and reach the Dzongzar Valley and Khyenle Center, where we will spend the remaining days, dedicating one day to each craft with local artists in the arts of: thangka (iconographic Buddhist art), metal sculpture (lost wax technique), clay, and calligraphy. In addition, we will take walks across the Tibetan plateau, visiting temples and caves where meditators live in spiritual practice. Below, watch the video to learn more about our residence location, the Khyenle artists, and the arts that we will be experiencing.
The valley of Tibetan Arts & Crafts in China
In a remote village in western Sichuan, Maisu(Dzongsar) is a thriving community where Tibetan artisans have harnessed the power of cultural heritage enterprise to create a vibrant and sustainable way of life. With over 1,000 artisans working in 27 workshops, the village specializes in traditional Tibetan crafts such as lost-wax casting, silversmithing, pottery, thangka painting, and wood carving. These craft enterprises not only provide a source of income but also foster flexibility and stability for the villagers. Additionally, they indirectly support other cultural traditions like yak herding, butter making, and traditional music. (Maisu)Dzongsar's craft economy, deeply rooted in Tibetan Buddhism, has become a symbol of cultural vitality, celebrating the rich heritage and traditions of the community.
Short Itinerary
June 2: Arrive in Chengdu. Welcome dinner
June 3: Visit old center of Chengdu. Tea shops, calligraphy session in the Wenschu temple
June 4: Morning flight from Chengdu to Ganzi, Tibet for those joining Part 2, or flight back home. Accommodation in Dzogchen and visit to the monastery.
June 5: Hike in the valley and visit to Yamataka Cave. Overnight in Derger.
June 6: Visit to the ancient printing press of Derger. Travel to Dzongsar.
June 7: Morning hike and visit to the Pema Champu Cave and Temple. Local workshops.
June 8: Tibetan calligraphy workshop with a local artist.
June 9: Pottery workshop with a local artist.
June 10: Thangka painting workshop with a local artist.
June 11: Metal jewelry workshop with a local artist.
June 12: Second part of the metal workshop – last day.
June 13: Hike through the Dorphu Valley and visit temples.
June 14: Early departure for Ganzi, visit to Ganzi Monastery, and overnight stay.
June 15: Flight to Chengdu and overnight stay.
June 16: Flight back home.
Travel with
Tiffani Gyatso is a Brazilian artist whose journey is intertwined with the paths of spirituality and Eastern artistic traditions. A specialist in Thangka, the sacred art of Tibetan Buddhism, she began her studies at the Gandan Monastery in Mongolia and further specialized in India from 2003 to 2006. Her restless gaze led her to unravel the mysteries of sacred geometry from the Middle East, studying at the Prince’s School of Traditional Arts in London and immersing herself in studies in Morocco. Between 2007 and 2012, she painted the murals of the CEBB Buddhist Center temple in Viamão, RS. Graduated in Visual Arts from Dulcina de Moraes University, she also explored her interests in contemporary painting, which she exhibited in New York in 2011 and 2015. She incorporated the importance of the body in the creative process through performances inspired by the teachings of her dance teachers Yumma Mudra and Raji, and her Chinese brushwork teacher, Alok Hsu Kwang-han.
Today, in the mountains of Extrema, MG, she lives and coordinates at Atelier YabYum, where she offers immersions and produces her creations. She is the author of the book "Life and Thangka." Since 2012, she has been leading annual study groups to India, Bhutan, and other countries in the East, spending much of the year in Asia.
She considers herself a pilgrim artist, seeking to learn from masters within their cultural contexts, and as such, she travels to many unexplored places to touch the invisible within the heart human being's essence, which is able of expressing itself in infinite forms and colors.
CÄTA Catarina Gushiken is a visual artist, born in São Paulo, Brazil, in 1981.
Her creative process involves investigations into identity, ancestry, and origin. She began her research using family archives, translating letters and diaries written in Uchinaguchi, an ancient indigenous language of Uchina, now Okinawa/Japan, left by her grandfather dating back to 1936. Through this investigation, the work Caligrafias Sensitivas (Sensitive Calligraphies) emerged, in collaboration with artist and photographer Gal Oppido. Catarina has been experimenting, beyond drawing and painting, with connections between asemic writing, the body, and dance. She participated in the performance Jardim Oriental dos Primeiros Desejos (Oriental Garden of First Desires), directed by Ismael Ivo, with the São Paulo City Ballet, performed at the Tomie Ohtake Institute (2019); the musical performance Sanshin, directed by Caito Marcondes, presented at Sesc Pompéia (2023); the calligraphic performance Corpos em Conjunto (Bodies Together) at the Pinacoteca do Ceará (2024); the performance MA during Michiko Okano's lecture at Sesc Consolação (2024); and the performance Caligrafias Sensitivas at the Casa de Cultura Japonesa | Interdepartmental Language Center - USP (2024).
Catarina's art manifests the confluences and sharing with other beings and their perceptions of the world, representing the very diversity of memories that emerge from encounters with such plural existences.
Details
NOT INCLUDED
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International flight
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Travel insurance
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Visa and other documentation fees
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Drinks and meals not mentioned
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Tips (typically, the group adds an amount for common tips given to the main guide for management)
INCLUDED:
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Airport pick-up in Beijing
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2 flights, round trip from Chengdu to Ganzi
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All land transfers in A/C mini bus
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12 overnight stays (9 nights in family guesthouse)
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All meals (breakfast, lunch, dinner)
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5 days of workshops with Tibetan artists
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Local guides and translators
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Support from Tiffani and Catarina
Contribution and Enrollment
TIBET: Ganze, Dzogchen, Deger, Dzongsar, Chengdu:
June 2 to June 16 (14 nights)
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Double Room with private bathroom: US$3,800
HOW TO ENROLL:
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Please request registration by emailing: arteperegrina@gmail.com
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No previous experience with art is required—just an interest, curiosity, and joy in learning and discovering art from the source of great masters.
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Limited spots available for 14 participants.
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After your registration, you will be invited to a few preparatory Zoom meetings for the trip, where all practical questions will be answered, and additional information about the places and customs will be shared to help you be well-prepared for this great journey.
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Any doubts, questions, or comments?
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We know it’s a long and very special trip, so feel free to schedule a no-obligation Zoom chat to clarify any doubts. Tiffani: arteperegrina@gmail.com
Note: We recognize that China is a peaceful place, and we have no political involvement at any level, nor have we ever had. We also do not intend to promote any political discussion. We are a group of artists interested in the architecture, local artists, and their painting techniques. We appreciate and learn from the rich Chinese culture and hope to be received, as we have been in the past, with great hospitality. Our intention is to promote the rich art of painting and calligraphy throughout China.
