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Towards the last two months of my last visit to India in the spring of 2012, I encountered the Tibetan community in exile in India experiencing painful news of their people self-immolating in fire one after another in China-occupied Tibet. My experiences in the past visits in India (drawing a cremation site in Varanasi, documenting fire pits, cremation alters, and contemplating on life and death around fire) synchronized with this particular movement, an extreme way of ‘offering’ their bodies to ‘fire’ for asking freedom and peace.I could not help drawing large and small drawings as emotional response and with a sense of mourning.

After coming back to Vancouver, the self-immolation kept happening and I felt that my personal and professional task is not finished.

I have come back to India to continue to document and draw under the same theme. tomoyoihaya@hotmail.com

13 February 2013

For Dhuptse and for Lobsang Namgyal

 
For Dhuptse and for Lobsang Namgyal, a monk from Kirti Monastery, Ngaba, Amdo, TIbet

Dhuptse self-immolated on February 13 near the holy Buddhist Stupa of Boudhanath, kathmandu, Nepal.

The news of Lobsang Namgyal's self-immolation arrived on the same day. He had passed away on Feb 3rd on site.

Chiese security took his body right way, only ash of his body was returned to his family.

sending prayers, I picture them standing on the green hill, among mountains and clear water.

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