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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

12 December 2013

November 2012 in Tibet ( 28 butter lamps)


Portraits of people who demonstrated their faith by offering their bodies in flame.

Dorjee Lhundup November 4
Tamdin Tso November 7
Tsegyal November 7
Sumdup November 7
Dorjee Kyab November 7
Dorjee November 7
Kalsang JImpa November 8
Gompo Tsering November 10
Nyingchag Bum November 12
Nyingkar Tashi November 12
Tangzin Dolma November 15
Khabum Gyal November 15
Sondak Tsering November 17
Chagmo Kyi November 17