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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

13 November 2017

Art news- "Drawings from Dharamsala" at National Chiao Tung University Arts Center September 21 to October 30 2017





Drawings,mixed media installation, and art videos from "Drawings from Dharamsala" were exhibited from September 21 to October 30 2017  at Arts Center of National Chiao Tung University, Hsinchu-City, Taiwan.  This was the first time to show a large body of works, although not all,  which have been accumulated since my 6 month stay in Dharamsala in 2012 up to present.  I was told the exhibition and lectures were all well 'felt' by students on campus and visitors. Much gratitude to the professor who arranged my visit and exhibition,  volunteer students, and gallery stuff who made this occasion wholesome and meaningful.

Note: As I often mentioned in different interviews, I do not feel that these drawings were drawn by me, but by collective consciousness of lost lives.  Therefore, I wish that you skip my name and 'see' drawings directly.

I have started drawing them because I felt a strong urge to do so for these fellow sisters and brothers, whom I have never met but feel very close to.  I have always hoped the peaceful resolution would come to the Land of Snows and in the world someday soon for these sacrifices to stop.  However the situation is not better, more lives have been lost up till now.



さる　２０１７年９月２１日から１０月３０日まで台湾の新竹市にある国立交通大学のアートセンターで　個展　”ダラムサラからの絵”が開催されました。２０１２年、インドのダラムサラで６ヶ月滞在した時から　今に至る８０点あまりのドローイング、ミックスト・メディア・インスタレーション、アートビデオが展示されました。企画をしてくださった教授、展示を手伝ってくれた生徒さん達、ギャラリーのスタッフのおかげでとても感慨深い経験になりました。また　ギャラリーからのメッセージによると　２千人あまりの訪問者があったということです。このシリーズの絵は　自分が描いている時に度々　描いているのは自分でなく　自由を求めて亡くなっていった　方達が　そばにいて描いているように強く感じました。だから　一種のいろいろな　あったこともないけれどもとても近く感じる　人たちの祈りや望みの集合意識の絵だと　思っています。’彼らの絵’が　たくさんの人に伝わったことを　以前状況が変わらず悲しく想う中にも嬉しく思います。