info

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

19 October 2022

Thinking of you 2: Mother's Egg Curry


The young doctor is 26 years old. 

He has been in the jungle for one year and half. 

He is determined not to surrender to the dictatorship. 

Here is one of songs that he wrote, sang, and posted online to cheer comrades and himself.

He misses his mother, her dishes, and warm home but does not want to give up getting freedom back to the country. 

Sharing his lyrics that was translated into English by his friend.  To listen, please click the link below the lyrics. 

I want to go home:

1. My health is not a good as it was when I was at home....

    Sometimes I stand guard in the rain with a gun.

    I miss Mom's safe and warm home.....

2. It's not as good as the food you cook at home, Mom.... 

    Here I learned to cook and eat well with what I have.....

    I have become a good man by staying at a place of value, Mom.

Chorus: I want to go home...

              I will come home....

              Mom's son is a good boy. 

              Now....

              I am not okay by ...I am ok. 

             Everytime I told my mother on the phone, 

              I lied....

              I want to go home..

Chorus: I want to go home

             I will come home

            Mom's son is a good boy

            Now.....

            I am not okay but ..

            I am okay

            Everytime I told my mother on the phone,

            I lied

            I want to go home

            I will come home

            Maybe tomorrow or maybe someday

            Writers: Nay Lone/Nay Thurain  Singer: Nay Thurain

        https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VNBy2PYDiGk&feature=youtu.be


There is an article by Mika Funakoshi, an independent journalist, who interviewed him. It is in Japanese, if you read Japanese or use auto translator, you can click the link below. 日本語関連記事（舟越美夏さん執筆）

　　https://news.yahoo.co.jp/byline/funakoshimika/20220916-00314736