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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

29 September 2013

Tree for Karma Nyedhon Gyatso II, september 29 2013

writing this on quiet morning in Bhopal. 

I drew this tree at Bharat Bhavan Art Complex graphic studio, one day before hearing the sad news of Shichung's self-immolation in Ngaba, Amdo Tibet on Sep. 28th.

BBC at the hotel TV had reported another earthquake, another terrorist attack, succession of 'another' at the previous night. I had gone to sleep feeling sad and helpless.

When I arrived at the studio at Bharat Bhavan Arts Complex in the following morning, green trees at the complex looked so fresh and alive and the vast surface of the lake below was shining quietly.

Such a contrast of light and darkness of this world.

So I started drawing trees, one big and one small. while drawing, the face, the calm profile of Karma Nyedhon Gyatso, came up in my mind. As I had seen photos of him sitting quietly at the main temple in Dharamsala last November, he cross-legged quietly and set himself in flame in Kathumandu on August 6th this year.

This tree is dedicated to him, the one who had walked through Tibet and to India with his hands. And left this life with a determination.

28 September 2013

For Shichung

For Shichung, 41 yrs old. Father of two children.
He self-immolated in Gomang Thawa township, Ngaba, Amdo, Tibet on September 28th

Shichung attended the local entertainment program.
When he came home, he lit a butter lamp i front of a portrait of H.H. Dalai Lama before setting himself on fire.

Father of two children

12 September 2013

solo exhibit in Bhopal, India

Drawings from Dharamsala, which were made between September 2012 to January 2013 mainly in Dharamsala, will be shown in Bhopal, MP, India. Those drawings are dedicated to Tibetan people who sacrificed their lives for freedom and peace in their motherland and for their people. Please drop in if you are nearby.....or come in spirit.

Dates: September 24th to September 29th
2 pm to 8 pm
@ Bharat Bhavan Arts Complex Gallery

Organized by Bharat Bhawan, a part of ROOPANKAR)