info
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 December 2012
crossing the border
Your Guru is going back and coming back
You can go home after so many years of struggles and pain
Reunite with your loved ones
Miraculous blue flowers in Jekhundo will be in full blossom
16 December 2012
13 December 2012
Miraculous Blue flower bloomed in Jakhundo
9 December 2012
For Bhenchen Kyi
You set yourself on fire on green pasture near your home, as if you turned into the soil of your motherland. As you wished, your family and two thousand people gathered around to protect your body. Blessing rain and snow fall on the mountains here in Dharamsala and we are sending you prayers, candle lights and lotus flowers.
8 December 2012
For Kongchok Phelgye and Pema Dorgee
December 8th, 2012.
For Kongchok Phelgye, 24 yrs old, a monk from Sumdo Monastery in Dzoega Region, Amdo.
For Pema Dorgee, 23 yrs old, a monk from Shitsang Monastery in Lucho region, Amdo.
5 December 2012
For Jigme Tsetan
3 December 2012
For Lobsang Gendun
For Lobsang Gendun, 29 yr old monk, who self-immolated in Golog Pema Dzong, Amdo. Engulfed in flames, he walked his hands clasped in prayers, raising slogans. After hundreds of steps, he fell to the ground near a monument of a lotus flower.
2 December 2012
For Sungdue Kayb
Yesterday, the sunset sky here was full of rainbow colours and golden light was shining from the ridges of clouds. You are riding your white horse to that sky, in that blessing field of light.