Hans-Juergen Reichelt

For decades now, our family, Edda & Hans-Juergen Reichelt, have been enthralled admirers and collectors of Thangkas, the fascinating art of Lamaism, probably the most exquisite sacred art in all the world.

In the early 1970’s, H.-J. Reichelt travelled widely in Asia, including Nepal, from where he returned with his first Thangkas. These were the first of a collection which has since grown to remarkable dimensions.

Even as a child, Hans-Jürgen felt a powerful affinity toward Tibet and its religious and political head of state, the Dalai Lama. Thus, it is not surprising that he dreamed of an audience with His Holiness. In 1993 an article appeared in a regional German newspaper with the headline: "An audience with the Dalai Lama is his fondest wish".

Ultimately, this life-long desire was fulfilled. In May of 1998 he and his friends were granted a private audience with His Holiness, the 14. Dalai Lama (see photo; H.-J. Reichelt right). In September of 2001, H.-J. Reichelt was granted a private audience with His Holiness, the 17th Gyalwa Karmapa, Ogyen Thinley Dorjee.

Prior to this and also later, Reichelt’s travels repeatedly led him to Dharamsala, where he found friends among the Tibetans there, one of them a former long-time member of the Tibetan exile parliament, Norbu Dharguay, who presented him with the Tibetan greeting and introduction for his website www.thangkas.com.

Over the years, the Reichelts have organized numerous Thangka exhibitions, mostly in Germany. On the occasion of the World’s Fair: EXPO 2000, in Hannover, one was presented at the Vien-Giac Monastery Pagoda, official external exhibition site of the EXPO 2000. Thangka exhibition venues beyond Germany’s borders have included Italy, Holland, Switzerland and the U.S.

The proceeds from the sale of Thangkas go toward financing sponsorships for Tibetan monks in exile, sponsorships for students in Nepal and India, poor Nepalese families & rikshaw drivers.