From running through the frozen valley of Phobjikha, to meditating with a monk at Gangteng Buddhist College and watching the first rays of sunlight illuminate the Tiger’s Nest Monastery, this series is inspired by seven memories Huub carried home from the Himalayan Kingdom.

Nestled deep within the Eastern Himalayas, Bhutan is a place where rivers, forests, mountains and wildlife continue to be treated with profound respect. Here, spirituality remains woven into daily life and the natural world is regarded not as something separate from us, but as something of which we are a part. Across its valleys and mountain passes, biodiversity flourishes and ancient traditions continue to shape the rhythm of everyday life. These Earth Paintings draw inspiration from that relationship. Through our signature Block, Lift and Float designs, the collection reflects values deeply embedded within Bhutanese culture: impermanence, detachment, imperfection, reverence and reciprocity. Each work is crafted from intentionally sourced Bhutanese rocks, minerals, ochres and traditional Daphne paper, supported by traditional woodworking. Together, they offer a glimpse into the heart and soul of a remarkable kingdom - and a way of life that reminds us of our connection to the living world around us.

A portion of the proceeds from this series will be donated to initiatives that support the preservation of Bhutanese craftsmanship, culture and traditional ways of life.
This series is part of the exhibition 'Becoming' at Hum Gallery in Lisbon, Portugal, and open to view on appointment until the end of August 2026.

The frozen valley of Phobjika

"I woke long before sunrise and left the farmhouse where I had spent the night with a local family. Following a trail used only by farmers, I ran through pine forests and across frozen streams as the valley slowly revealed itself in the first light of day.

Eventually, I reached a ridge where 108 white prayer flags stood overlooking the valley. The ground beneath my feet was frozen solid and the mountains were still wrapped in shadow. As I waited, the first rays of sunlight touched the landscape. The earth began to thaw, birds started calling from the forest, and somewhere in the distance I could hear the faint sound of cowbells carried across the valley.

I later learned that these prayer flags had been raised by local families to honour loved ones who had passed away. In Bhutan, the cycle of reincarnation is woven deeply into daily life, and families invest great care in these rituals to support a peaceful transition into the next life.

Standing there, I didn’t feel like an outsider looking in. I felt a profound sense of peace, and a deep recognition of a culture that honours the ending of a life cycle just as beautifully as its beginning."

Standing at the Lungchuzeka Goemba

“When I think of Bhutan, one specific image immediately flashes before my eyes: standing at the Lungchuzekha Goemba. The temple is located a stunning hike up from Dochula Pass - and the mountain air around this place is filled with the typical smell of fresh juniper incense and butter tea.

My skin simultaneously feels moist from the steep hike, fresh from the chilly breeze at this altitude and warm from the afternoon sun. The sound of the head Lama chanting inside overlays the subtle sound of the rotating prayer wheels at the entrance of this isolated temple.

The moment your eyes look deep into the interior of the country and straight into the highest peaks of the Himalayas almost cannot be explained. It is there that you get a first glimpse of the big picture. I am transfixed - and the world beyond my senses seems to disappear for a moment.”

Meditating with a monk at Gangteng Buddhist College

“High above the Phobjikha Valley sits Gangteng Buddhist College, overlooking one of the most beautiful landscapes in Bhutan. Surrounded by pine forests, glacial wetlands and distant mountains, it is a place of extraordinary stillness.

We arrived in the late afternoon and, through the kindness of the monastery community, I was invited to spend time with a monk before evening prayer. We began not with meditation, but with tea. For a while we simply talked. He asked why I had come to Bhutan, what drew me to this place and to meditation and what I hoped to learn. What struck me most was the quality of his attention and empathy.

After describing the importance and concepts of Buddhist meditation, he guided me through a traditional compassion meditation. I was asked to bring to mind someone I loved deeply and imagine that person suffering. Through the breath, I would take in their pain and return compassion, healing and kindness. It was a moving practice and experience.

Afterwards, we joined the monks for evening prayer. The hall slowly filled with maroon robes, ritual instruments and all kinds of offerings. I am grateful to have the chance to travel back to Gangteng in my mind and experience that moment in a different place and time.”

Sunrise hike to Tiger’s Nest

“We arrive in the upper Paro Valley with most of Bhutan still asleep and the sun still far behind the large vertical rock faces stretching up before us. The scent of pine resin hangs in the cool morning air as we embark on a gradual climb through forests of blue pine, rhododendron, fir, hemlock, and magnolia. Along the way, the monastery reveals itself on only two or three occasions. Suspended high against a dark granite cliff, it appears almost impossible.

We reach the magical Tiger’s Nest before it opens and stand for a while in complete silence, surrounded by rock, forest and sky. The monastery is a labyrinth of temples, stairways and passages carved partially into the mountain at dazzling altitude. Everywhere I look, there are hand-carved wooden details, painted mandalas, butter lamps and centuries of devotion made visible through craftsmanship and care.

What strikes me besides the beauty of this place is the effort required to preserve it. After a devastating fire, Tiger’s Nest was painstakingly rebuilt. All materials were walked up using mules and manpower, - and every beam, carving and painted surface speaks of generations of people who believe this place mattered enough to protect.

Reverence is not simply a belief. It is something people practice through care, dedication and responsibility.”

Pangri Zampa Monastery

“Among the many places I visited in Bhutan, Pangri Zampa College of Astrology was perhaps one of the most unusual. Astrology occupies an important place within Bhutanese culture, influencing everything from marriages and births to important life decisions. The night sky is viewed as a living, sacred cosmos filled with celestial energy and cosmic order. Deities are believed to inhabit parts of the land and specific places. For centuries, astrology, lunar cycles, and the movement of the stars have guided daily life, agricultural rhythms and monastic rituals, anchoring humanity within a vast, infinite wonder. 

Curious to understand this more deeply, I visited Pangri Zampa, one of Bhutan’s most important centres for the study of astrology. Nestled among ancient cedar trees, the college felt peaceful, timeless and purposeful.

Students and teachers moved calmly through the grounds. Monks carried large pots of tea between buildings. Butter lamps were being prepared for offering. Dogs slept in the shade. The scent of incense drifted through the air.

Conversations about karma, reincarnation, and the influence of the cosmos on humanity were completely natural. There was no need to explain or justify these ideas, they simply formed part of everyday life. Whether one believes in astrology or not almost becomes irrelevant. The sense of wonder it encourages and the acceptance that not everything that is important can be seen, measured or fully understood is enough.”

Punakha Dzong

“Compared to many of the higher valleys, Punakha feels warm, fertile and full of life. Rice fields spread across the valley floor and at its heart stands Punakha Dzong — one of Bhutan’s most impressive and important spiritual and cultural landmarks.

What makes this place particularly special is the meeting of two rivers. The Pho Chhu, or Male River, descends from the mountains with strength and force. The Mo Chhu, or Female River, follows a gentler course through the valley. Just behind Punakha Dzong, the two rivers meet and continue their journey together as a single waterway.

We visited the Dzong, crossed the suspension bridge high above the Po Chhu and simply sat near the river’s edge. Fed by snowmelt from the high mountains, the water was crystal clear and carried a striking blue-green colour. Even standing beside it, you could feel its power.

They are not viewed simply as waterways, but as living presences. The Mo Chhu is associated with nurturing feminine energy, while the Pho Chhu embodies strength and masculine energy. Their meeting is seen as a symbolic union between these complementary forces. Within our Earth Painting practice, I often experience a process with Elise that feels similar to the way the Bhutanese people view the joining of these two sacred rivers.”

Nobgang Village

“The day before travelling to Bhutan, I had started reading a memoir written by the Queen Mother of Bhutan. In its opening chapters, she describes growing up in the remote village of Nobgang, high in the Punakha Valley. On our travels through the country, her stories stayed with me - so I asked if we could visit.

Reaching Nobgang took time. The road wound high into the mountains and the further we climbed, the more life seemed to slow down. When we finally arrived, there was almost nothing to see in the conventional sense. No tourist attractions. Just a small village, built on red, beige and orange soil and ochre. And that was precisely what made it special.

We spent a few hours wandering around and exploring the village, watching a carpenter restoring the interior and roofing of the local temple. Old timber lay stacked outside and traditional earth pigment stood waiting beside the temple as paint. Somebody else was driving an ancient tractor and cows, dogs and all kinds of animals came to greet us as we admired the views into the valley. 

What stayed with me most were the modest homes, the sense of community and the calmness of this village - built on a beautiful deep red soil. It felt like a place deeply connected to its roots. A place where time moves differently.”