December 27, 2009:A still capture of a young girl with rosy cheeks, a far away almost distraught look in her eyes, a tiny black mole peeping from the corner of her right eye, tousled hair and her petite frame enwrapped in a blue-green jacket.

An olden day Bhutanese warrior with an iron helmet, a face creased and aged yet firm, holding onto a shield with a moon cradled by a crescent and four spiked centres beneath.

Two distinct images, two contrasts- vulnerability and strength, youth and age, contemporary and archaic. These two frames capture two diametrically opposite essences of Bhutan.

The photography exhibition held at Jaipur House on 23rd December by the Indo-Bhutan Foundation had on display some of the finest representations on the country captured in still frame by none other than His Majesty the King who was on a state visit to India last week.

The Director of National Gallery of Modern Art, Professor Rajeev Lochan described His Majesty’s works as “fascinating portraits.”

Indian ambassador to Bhutan P.K. Varma said the pictures represented the journey of friendship between the two countries.

“It is a living and enduring document of the friendship between two countries,” he said.

And the personal inclination of the king towards the art was summed up by the Secretary of Minister of Culture when he said that His Majesty was a “culturally involved king” with “an honest love for aesthetic art.”

Dr Karan Singh, visionary Indian statesman said he was “profoundly impressed” by His Majesty’s photographic skills.

And the Indian dignitaries were not the only ones impressed. A wide range of viewers who visited the exhibition had a plethora of interesting comments to offer none of which could be called unfavourable.

Neerjapant, the mother of writer Namita Gokhale, claimed that her daughter had said that the exhibition was “something which could not be missed.”

And she said she was not disappointed.

“It is an excellent exhibition.” Referring to her personal favourite, she said she liked the frame which had captured two elderly women sharing a light moment. One with a grey crown of hair, her face crinkled up in mirth while the other just starting to show signs of salt and pepper joined her in her show of genuine, undiluted happiness.

“Maybe, because I am old like them,” chuckled Neerjapant.

Vijaya Bagai, a veteran painter said that she particularly liked the still of a group of monks in red crossing a bridge over a still pond which had captured various shades and light from the surroundings.

“It is a simple and serene subject but the content, the reflection, the composition and the beautiful balance of right colours are overwhelming. And the burst of red in the monks’ garb gives it life,” she reflected.

And she paid a wonderful compliment to His Majesty’s work when she said- “It reminds me of Claude Monet,” comparing him to the great French impressionist painter.

But what does a professional photographer himself think of His Majesty’s works?

Kaushik Ramaswamy of the National Gallery said that he is involved with the technical side of photography so he cannot judge the pictures on the basis of content but he said that the pictures are “historically important” and he liked His Majesty’s “black and white portraits.”

All these reactions, suggest that His Majesty’s works have captured the sublime beauty, the spiritual essence, the quiet grandeur, the loved simplicity, and the unique charm of everything Bhutanese.

Lily Wangchuck, one of the Curators, said that the project “shows Bhutan through the eyes of our King and reveals the democratic transition that it has undergone.”

In addition, she said that the exhibition is also a “historical tie of friendship” between the two countries which hopes to “enhance better understanding among the people.”