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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

15 June 2012

for Tamding Thar and Rikyo



For Tamding Thar, who passed on June 15th, 2012 in Chentsa, Amdo, and for Rikyo, who passed on may 30th, 2012 in Zamthang, Kham.  And for her 3 children who were left behind. "With hope that peace prevails on the earth' wrote Tamding.

"May green leaves of Tara keep growing from theirs and many others' tears,  from those who have passed this life time for human dignity and from those who are left behind."
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