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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

3 March 2017

Losar 2017

Losar tashi delek
sending many wishes for well-being of all and the world. 
May we all grow a spacious ,deep, and loving heart to eliminate 
hinderances within and around. 
And may those hearts never forget all beings, who are
in darkness, pain, and despair yet with dignity. May they be out to under the full of light, where they can fly, swim, walk freely with much care and love.
On the occasion of Tibetan new year of Female Fire Bird
わたしたち　みんなの心が　果てしなく広く深く
慈しみに満ち、世の苦しみがなくなりますように
チベット暦正月　謹賀新年