SKU: 90332424428

Neylu village, Laya, 2004

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Description

Neylu village, Laya, 2004In a misguided attempt to legislate a unified national culture in the wake of the Nepali uprising, Bhutan's government instituted the Driglam Namzha policy to guide public dress and architecture. In a country where the elevation ranges from 300 feet to 25,000 feet and encompasses a wide variety of climates, cultures, and local materials, this "unifying" policy was a disaster and often had the opposite effect of creating a "nationwide family." Bhutan's

In a misguided attempt to legislate a unified national culture in the wake of the Nepali uprising, Bhutan's government instituted the Driglam Namzha policy to guide public dress and architecture. In a country where the elevation ranges from 300-feet to 25,000-feet and encompasses a wide variety of climates, cultures, and local materials, this "unifying" policy was a disaster and often had the opposite effect of creating a "nationwide family."

Bhutan's traditional Drukpa dress is fashionably elegant as well as practical in the Drukpa heartland. However, it is hot and cumbersome in the sweltering lowlands and did not go well with the Lhotshampa, used to Nepali clothes. The urban youth preferred Western fashion and ignored the government.

The dress code is enforced in offices and schools. It is accepted by most Bhutanese as attractive and stylish for formal occasions. But for the most part, the policy is disregarded, and the government turns a blind eye.

Bhutanese village architecture evolved by necessity. Geography dictated building structure, rooflines, and materials. Sun, wind, water, economics, and local gods, decreed building placement, orientation, density, and village cluster design.

 

Now building codes demand nationwide uniformity. New structures appear to be traditional—modeled on the enlightened form and expression of the dzongs and the vernacular wisdom of the villages—but often lack the harmony and balance of village houses. Traditional details, built with wood, earth, and stone, are now being imitated in concrete and steel, and shapes have shifted. The demands of modern materials distort the original architecture's beauty, freezing the function of many details into meaningless artifice and ignoring the wisdom of "form follows function." The result is concrete boxes with gingerbread "Bhutanese" icing, with no consideration for the elements—hot in the summer, cold in the winter.

The young are moving from the villages in droves, creating demand for urban housing. Bhutan's first attempts at urban planning are end-to-end faux Bhutanese concrete buildings, tight right-angled grids with no provisions for sidewalks, trees, planters, gardens, or much else that is close to the Bhutanese heart. The elegance expressed in Bhutan's dzongs and villages can undoubtedly be achieved with modern materials. However, a Bhutanese façade over an Indo-Western form is not the way.

From BHUTAN: Hidden Lands of Happiness, by John Wehrheim (Serindia 2011)

PHOTO PRINTS
Prints are on Hahnemuhle heavyweight (315 gsm) 100% archival cotton “Photo Rag Baryta” paper, using archival inks and archival spray coating. They have a 200-year life expectancy before any deterioration of the print will be observed when stored, handled, and displayed under archival conditions.

CANVAS PRINTS
What is often called “Gallery Wrap Canvas” is a fine art inkjet (Giclee) print on canvas, with printed edges to wrap around a wooden stretcher frame, like a painting. With canvas prints, your print image is still the same size, but given a "wrap effect" around the edges to account for the thickness of the stretcher. Canvas can be rolled and shipped with no effect to the print. Your local framing shop should be able to mount the canvas to stretchers at a fraction of the cost of traditional framing, making for an overall more economical way to get fine art on your wall. The canvas is printed to wrap around a 1-inch stretcher (1.5 inches on larger sizes). Specifications will be provided with your order. Feel free to contact us if you need guidance with your canvas order.

John prints, titles, dates, and signs all of his photos.

CUSTOM ORDERS: For custom orders of prints shipped flat, framed, or as stretched canvas, contact [email protected].

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SKU: 90332424428

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Desmond Moore
Battle Creek, US
★★★★★ 5
Great bags
Color: Extra Large - 3Pcs
Strong, and sturdy bags. It's great that they are reusable.
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Reviewed in the United States on January 30, 2026
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Nicole Weaks
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Love the gift bags
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Good gift bags
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Nicole Swanson
New York, US
★★★★★ 5
Just what I needed
Color: Extra Large - 3Pcs
The bags were perfect medium size fit pair of men’s jeans and 3 shirts and a sweater. The straps were sturdy. It does comes with gift tissue in the package not enough for all bags but enough for at least 2 bags … if you’re like me and like to use 4-5 tissues per bag 😂
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Reviewed in the United States on January 31, 2026
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Kim
Houston, US
★★★★★ 3
Good Size and Quality, But Strong Odor
Color: Extra Large - 3Pcs
These bags are a nice size and seem durable, especially for larger items. However, they arrived with a very strong odor that was noticeable as soon as I opened the package. I'm hoping the smell fades over time, but it was disappointing and worth mentioning. Overall, the bags are functional, but the odor keeps me from giving a higher rating.
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Liz A
Grantham, US
★★★★★ 5
Exactly what I was looking for
Color: Extra Large - 3Pcs
Needed it for a shoe box gift & a couple other small clothing items & they fit perfectly. Loved that it came with some tissue paper as well. Pretty sturdy.
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Reviewed in the United States on December 27, 2025

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