Drubchok, the creator of a madala thangka explains his work to a visitor at the exhibition [Photo by Palden Nyima/chinadaily.com.cn]

Drubchok, 26, an artist from Tibet's Nagqu prefecture, worked for six months on his mandala, called "The Eighteen Disciples of the Buddha".

It is a Thankga painting, with innovative touches such as plants and animals around its edge.

Among the visitors on the first day of the exhibition was Peyang, a Tibetan student from Peking University.

"I had only seen mandala painted as Thangka in the past. This is my first time to see mandala manifested in so many ways," he said.

The Heart Mandala exhibition continues until Sept 4.