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Home>Service> Awardees of Fervent Global Love of Lives Award> 24th Fervent Global Love of Lives Award 2021> The Bhutanese Woodcarving Maestro with Cerebral Palsy — Pema Tshering
The Bhutanese Woodcarving Maestro with Cerebral Palsy — Pema Tshering
Carving Miracles, Living Wonders

“Human cannot choose how they are born, but they can decide how they can live,” — Pema Tshering
 
fulfilling dreams with feet
 
Pema Tshering is one of the most renowned carpenter in Bhutan, both for his craft and his tragic life story. The 39-year-old craftsman was diagnosed with cerebral palsy at age six, and was abandoned by his parents.
He lived with his grandparents throughout his tough childhood. Pema was poor, but he had great passion for art despite his disabilities. Through sheer determination, he learned painting and woodcarving using his feet, creating many masterpieces that eventually translated enough money for him to build a new house for the parents who deserted him.
At age 18, Pema’s story reached the nation’s princess, Tshering Pem Wangchuk, who adopted him. Pema then went on to study art at the Institute of Zorig Chusum. At the art school, Pema learned to use his toes to hold tools and make wood carvings with finesse. At the same time, he used his feet to hold paint brushes and make floral paintings that inspire hope and optimism in viewers.
The Bhutan National Museum currently has a room dedicated to Pema’s craft. Armed with fame and means of making a living, Pema has dedicated himself to helping the unfortunates. He even tracked down the parents who deserted him long ago and helped them build a house.
“If I don’t help my parents, that means I don’t respect them, then whatever I do, I will feel like a failure,” he said.
 
A hopful beginning
 
        Pema Tshering was born on January 1, 1981 in a village Bhutan. His cerebral palsy prevented him from using his arms, so Pema learned to do everything with his feet. He first experienced with crafting by building bows and arrows with bamboos, this opened a range of new possibilities.
        Pema couldn’t go to school due to his disability, but he never gave up and taught himself everything he needed to know to survive. At age 18, Tshering Pem Wangchuk heared about Pema’s story, and wanted to offer him something.
        Pema simply replied: “I don’t want money or anything else, I just want to go to school.”
        Just like that, the princess adopted Pema and sent him to study at the nation’s renowned Institute of Zorig Chusum, where Pema studied painting and woodcarving for six years.
 
Carving miracles
 
        Pema’s small art pieces could fetch around 258 New Taiwan Dollars each, while his larger Thangka pieces could sell for up to 10,750 NTDs. On Average, his monthly earning was around 3,100 NTDs, which is relatively high for the country.
        He could make a small wood art piece in about three days, and large ones in a week. But for painting Thangka, it would need two to three weeks. The art pieces he made are lavished with details, ranging from giant dragons to intricate floral patterns. It is hard to conceive that they came from an artist with no hands.
        In 2010, Pema held an exhibition in India. He also sent his love to the Chinese mainland and Hong Kong, encouraging other disabled artists to pursue their dreams. Pema is now a capable man with a big heart, and he built a two-story house for his parents at the Mongar county in Bhutan.
        Pema said he often hear today’s youngsters complaining about the lack of employment, yet he believed the opportunities are everywhere. “Young people shouldn’t pursue a cushy job, success is earned one hard step at a time, you can’t get it easily,” he said.
        Now, Pema has become an art entrepreneur, with a big dream of studying art in New York City before returning home and establishing an art school dedicated for children with special needs. Pema hoped his future school could rekindle the passion for education and better living in children, and help them appreciate their life and gift to bring beauty to the world.