Drawings from Dharamsala

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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

21 July 2013

Vigil in rainy Dharamsala July 21 2013

Vigil - Mar mee tong kor for Kunchok Sonam in Rainy Dharamsala ( imagination)

Thinking of Rangzen Momo la too.

20 July 2013

For Kunchok Sonam

For Kunchok Sonam, 18 yrs old, who self-immolated on July 20th in Zoege region, Amdo, Tibet.
He carried out his protest soon after the morning prayer session at Zoege Monastery.

Local people rescued his body before being taken away by the Chinese security personnel.

A Tibetan friend from Tsoe told me that Zoege has beautiful green grassland. By now how many drops of tears and blood of tragedy has it absorbed?

Please rest in your soft green motherland and come back when it is a free country. Soon.

19 July 2013

She is growing into a tree

She is growing into a tree
Mixed media on Japanese paper
2013 29.5 x 48"

Crossing

Crossing
Mixed media on wooden panel
2012 39 x 78"

4 Rivers 6 Mountains

4 Rivers 6 Mountains
Mixed media on Japanese paper
2012 29.5 x 48"

Wishing Tree

Wishing Tree
Mixed media on Japanese paper
29.5 x 48" 2012

13 June 2013

Tomoyo Ihaya's Blue Lotus mourns those who have sacrificed for Tibet
by Robin Laurence on Jun 11, 2013 at 12:57 pm

11 June 2013

For Wangchen Dolma

For Wangchen Dolma, 31 years old, a nun who self-immolated in Tawo, Kham, on June 11th. She was taken by Chinese security force after her self-immolation and has been missing since.

6 June 2013

Blue Lotus - Drawings for the lives in the Land of Snow

Blue Lotus -Drawings for the lives in the Land of Snow
June 13 to 20 2075 Alberta Street Vancouver BC

Opening reception: Thursday, June 13, 6 – 9pm - Please bring a candle
Artist talk: Saturday, June 15, 2pm
Artist will be drawing in the gallery on June 15 and 16

For Tenzin Sherab

For Tenzin Sherab, 31 yrs old who self-immolated in Adril region, Jekhundo, Kham, Tibet on May 27th.

Several days before his protest, he had told his friends:
'The current rule by PRC is not good.
If this situation continues, our religion and culture will
disappear. I can not live under such a circumstance'

We stand here hearing your heart breaking news and feel helpless that we can not reach and take actions to help you at this moment.