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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

5 April 2022

For Tashi Phuntsok March 27 2022


 For Popo Tashi Phuntsok, 81 years old, who self immolated on March 28 2022 in Ngaba, Amdo, Tibet. 

Tashi Phuntsok, known as Taphun, set himself on fire around 5 am local time on March 27th in frotn of the Public Secutiry Bureau office at Kirti Monastery in Ngaba. According to a reliable source, right after his protest, the CCP police took his body away to an undisclosed location where he passed away later. 

Taphun is said to have held great concerns about the future of Tibet.  

"Since the sun of happiness will certainly shine over Tibet with the blessings of His Holiness the Dalai lama, young Tibetans should not lose heart!"  - the words spoken by him to guests at his 80th birthday celebration last year.