Two Bodies with One Soul

Widely regarded as ‘one’ of the most talented contemporary painters in their country, identical twin brothers Tashi Dendup and Ugyen Samdrup live and work at 2300m above sea level in Thimphu, the capital of the Himalayan Kingdom of Bhutan. Since 2014, going by the artist name TWINZ, they have been following their own distinctive professional path: they blend contemporary painting with ancient Buddhist and Shamanistic traditions and artistic expression. What makes them unique apart from their impressive art is that they work together on their paintings. They are ‘two bodies with one soul’. Always inseparable. 

The TWINZ first were interested in discovering music, but then their fascination with European painters, particularly Rembrandt, made them study Fine Arts at Lovely Professional University in India. Their first solo exhibition in 2017 was themed ‘Warriors’ that was inspired by a chapter ‘The sacred path of the Warrior’ in the book entitled ‘The Essential’ of Chögyam Trungpa Rinpoche, the late influential Tibetan Buddhist master. 

A year later, their second solo exhibition ‘Invoking Entities’ in India was inspired by Shamanism and Vajrayana Buddhism and dedicated to His Majesty Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck, the King of Bhutan, who himself enjoys painting and supports art and artists in the country. Their big dream is to have their next solo exhibition held in Europe in 2021 and become internationally recognised ambassadors of contemporary Bhutanese art.

‘Normally, we don’t talk much, we don’t express it through. Painting is more of our voice, through that we can express what we have inside… We do have some favourite painters, especially in Renaissance, Baroque: Leonardo Da Vinci, Michelangelo, Caravaggio, Rembrandt, and Rubens.’ - say The TWINZ.

To date, several of their artworks - painted with oil and acrylic on canvas - have been bought by local art lovers, friends of Bhutan across the globe, visitors of their Thimphu studio, and prominent art lovers in Bhutan. No doubt: they are truly among the most promising and exciting artists emerging in Bhutan today. 

Besides painting together every day, The TWINZ also illustrate children’s books, do jogging in the mountains, and help their mother’s professional gardening business.

Read more about the TWINZ ARTISTS and visit our Online Gallery to see and purchase from their selected paintings. In case you are interested in exploring their other artworks, please do not hesitate to contact us.