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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

11 March 2016

Performance report and introducing the first draft of ' Eyes Water Fire'



On March 5th, Kunsang Choeki, my Tibetan sister, and I participated in the multi disciplinary event called "Not Sent Letters and Guest" organised by Jeremy Todd. Kunsang read a letter written by me to a friend living in a politically sensitive place.  The letter can't sent without comporomising the addressee's safety. I lied down with a spirit while her reading the letter beautifully.
The first draft of a new animated short, Eyes Water Fire was screened and it is ready to be shared in public. Please take a look.

Link to the video: https://vimeo.com/148973390

Special thanks to"  Mona Ali-Zghoul and Ignacio Betancourt for compositing and sound for the video
and Kunsang Choekyi ( KC ) for her moving performance.  To Leanne Johnson for her advice and encouragement.  To Jeremy Todd for offering this opportunity. What a wonderful experience of resonance, understanding, creativity, and love.

Photo credit:  Alisha Weng