Oxford Conference

I'm still in Oxford but leaving tomorrow for London to spend three days looking at museum and private art collections. The conference in Oxford was one of the best I have ever attended. The model for the conference is new to me but I believe it works. More on that later......and some photos......

On the Road Again......

Here I am once again sitting in the Business Class lounge at Terminal 7 - JFK. No, I don't fly Business Class. I just fly so much that they always let me use the lounge - free food, free drinks, etc.

London is my next port of call. I arrive at 6:20 in the morning and then immediately catch the bus from Heathrow to Oxford. Most of the conference participants are already there enjoying the Oxford pub life. The conference starts at 2:30 tomorrow which will allow me a few hours sleep before lunch and the opening speeches and lectures. My paper is scheduled for Friday afternoon. The title "Traditional Tibetan Art: Moving Beyond Iconography & Religion." It is actually an updated version of a paper I gave in Beijing this past October. The Powerpoint presentation is full of great art with most of it unpublished. I have also added recently discovered paintings from my last trip to Chengdu and Beijing in March/April.

I don't think I have been back to Oxford since 1970. It has been a long time. The Ashmolean Museum has re-opened and hopefully I will get a chance to see some of their Tibetan paintings. Amy Heller just recently published a book highlighting the Ashmolean's Tibetan sculpture collection. Still, it is the paintings that are of primary interest for me.

A 17th Century Tibetan Contemporary Artist

Probably one of the most famous Tibetan contemporary artists of his time was the 10th Karmapa, Choying Dorje (1604-1674). It is said that he was trained in a traditional Menri Style and then later studied in a Kashmiri style. What is obviously apparent is that the examples of his work that have come down to us today are in a unique style - the style of Choying Dorje. (The first image is by the current contemporary artist Pema Rinzin of New York. The three images of paintings below are by the 10th Karmapa Choying Dorje).

See other works of art by Choying Dorje.

For the multi-faced and armed deity, note the gate-like halo surrounding the main figure. It is created to appear as if water, manipulated and suspended. Also see the throne beneath the central subject, rendered with the same treatment, and added figures supporting the pink lotus.

Probably the most unique set of paintings created by Choying Dorje is the life story of Shakyamuni Buddha. No explanation should be required, all that one need to do is look to see how special it is. Look at the colours, the forms, the composition, the rendering of the human figures, animals and birds.

The 10th Karmapa was also famous for his depictions of animals and birds. Notice in this painting of a yellow goddess how the sow and piglets beneath the deity figure are rendered far more life-like with a richness of detail than the yellow deity herself.

A capital 'C' contemporary artist, although sometimes trained traditionally, is often somebody that breaks the rules and is innovative. Sometimes the artist is copied and a new style is created and at other times nobody can follow where that artist has gone.

Choying Dorje is an example of a contemporary artist that was not followed by other artists. It can't really be said that he was a traditional Tibetan artist either - he was an innovative contemporary artist of his time. I believe that he had a love of art, and of animals - clearly shown in his paintings and biography - and I believe that he created art for art's sake.

A Review by Art Daily News

Pema Rinzin (1966 - ), Peace and Energy 1, 2009. Ground mineral pigments and gold on cloth, 41 x 61 in. Collection of the artist.

"NEW YORK, NY.- There is no Tibetan equivalent for the word “art” as it is known in the West. The closest approximation is lha dri pa, literally, “to draw a deity.” Traditionally, neither the Tibetan language nor the Tibetan cultural framework has recognized art for art’s sake, and an artist’s efficacy rests in his ability to precisely replicate an established visual language and portray the essence of a particular deity." (Artdaily.org).

All I can say is that the above statement is WRONG. It is WRONG, WRONG, WRONG. Good artists and great artists all over the world from the beginning of time have created art as a statement, and beauty for beauty's sake, quality for quality's sake, and art for art's sake.

From Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet, 1600. Juliet:
"... that which we call a rose
By any other name would smell as sweet;..."

I don't fault the online magazine for this statement above. It is clearly lifted from the gallery catalogue produced to accompany the current Tibetan Contemporary exhibition. It is unfortunate and sad that all things Tibetan must be looked at through the narrow glasses of religion - and Tibetan Buddhist religion at that.

Maybe in this field of Tibetan art, traditional and contemporary, it is time to rely less on religious studies professors, historians, anthropologists, ethnographers and, yes, Tibetologists and rely more on Art Historians and Art Critics. Maybe it is time to rely on the experts who's job it is to discuss and critique the subject of art: technique, skill, style, harmony, colour balance and beauty. The subject of religion will still remain the domain of religious teachers and scholars. The subject of history will still remain the domain of historians. The subject of iconography will still remain the domain of iconographers. None of this will change.

Some of the earliest and most famous Tibetan contemporary artists of their time were Mantangpa(15th c.), Khyentse (15th c.), Choying Dorje (17th c.), Choying Gyatso (17th c.), Cho Tashi (17/18th c.), and Kangdze Lhadripa (18th c.), amongst many, many others. There is a long history of tradition and change in the Tibetan art culture along with tremendous innovation in technique, style and composition. THIS IS NOT NEW!

Please don't put the Tibetan artist back in the cave just for the sake of preserving a - Western conceived - Tibetan Buddhist attitude and monopoly on how to look at all things Tibetan.

Take off the binding chains of religious orthodoxy and oppression.
Let the Artist Go! Free the Tibetan Artists! Free the Tibetan Artists!

A Beautiful Day In Vancouver

It was a beautiful clear day with a bright - deep - blue sky and flowers everywhere, summer flowers, and a bumble bee going about its business. The variations of green were especially soothing to the eye and healthy for the mind.

A Temporary Escape - Vancouver

I have made a quick exit and vacated my apartment while the workmen begin to replace the roof over head. On Friday they installed a temporary plastic ceiling in the apartment to try and catch all the falling debris, dirt and dust. It is not very attractive but hopefully will do the job it is intended for. In the process of closing up the apartment for the week or so that I will be away as they busily work, I noticed new brown water stains on the southern wall above one of the two windows on that side. I now have four known leaks. I have not been visited by any of the small pests since returning from Paris. I did have a red mark on my right arm the first night back, Wednesday, but can't say for sure that it was one of the nasty pests - known in Tibetan as 'demon lice.' I need a break, that's for sure.

The Christie's Auction in Paris on Tuesday was a mad house of activity and I have not yet landed - mentally - enough to begin to talk about it. After my Wednesday night sleep listening to the water drip from the ceiling into a bucket - not much sleep at all - I enjoyed the opening of the Tibetan Contemporary exhibition at the RMA. By the way, in my life, I have never before slept on a wet mattress because of leaks from the roof or ceiling. There was an after party at Merchant's restaurant with over 30 people in attendance. I hesitate to mention any names for fear of getting anyone into trouble. It was a good, no, great time, good friends and good conversations. Any opportunity to spend time with good friends is time well spent.

Tibetan Contemporary Art Exhibition - The Opening

The Rubin Museum of Art is having its 'members opening' tonight, along with invited guests, for the new Tibetan Contemporary Exhibition. This is a perk for members of the museum. For the general public the show opens tomorrow at 11:00.

Why do I care? Well, I have many issues with how Himalayan and Tibetan art is presented and understood in the West and I believe that by also looking at - what is called - Tibetan contemporary art there can be an actual dialogue about art, both old and new. Generally, almost always, any discussion of Tibetan art centers on iconography and religion, or Tibetan-Chinese politics. There is very rarely any discussion about the art itself, the aesthetics, the uniqueness of Tibetan art, brush stroke and colour, let alone the poor forgotten artist that is completely free of ego yet always told what to do by a Lama. Alas, the poor artist, ignorant of what he is doing, yet humble and egoless. That is the traditional Western model of a good Tibetan Artist.

The fact that people still believe this old tired religious model of Tibetan art, teach it and publish it in art & gallery catalogues is amazing yet sad. All of this must change! The field of Himalayan and Tibetan Art History must move into the 20th and 21st century and begin to look at art the same way that art from other great art producing cultures is looked at - uniqueness, beauty, harmony, technique, and aesthetics - not just from a narrow one sided religious perspective. All of this must change.

For those of you in New York the after party to celebrate Pema's first museum exhibition will be at Merchant's around the corner from the RMA at 8:00 in the downstairs room (with the fireplace).

Back in New York

The flight from Paris to New York was pretty good considering the airline I flew only has business class seating. It is called Open Skies. I know, I hadn't heard of it either.

I didn't sleep too well last night in the apartment because of the rain coming through the roof into the bucket right next to my bed, plop, plop, plop. The mattress had already gotten wet by the time I returned from dinner at 9:00 p.m. I pushed the bed away from the new leak making sure to avoid the old leaks. I dried the mattress on the wet side as much as possible and placed a bucket to collect the dripping water. I did not have good dreams.

The workmen come in tomorrow, Friday, to cover the apartment ceiling with plastic sheeting stapled to the walls. The sheeting will hopefully catch and collect much of the roof debris as it falls through. The workers are being told to be careful on the rafters so that they don't inadvertently step and break through the ceiling causing an even bigger mess. Can you believe it! It's like I'm in Bangladesh during a bad year of monsoons - but oh no, this is New York City.

I have booked a ticket to leave NY for Vancouver tomorrow night. Who knows when the roof work will be finished and the apartment cleaned up? Maybe the bed bugs will also leave because it is just too Third World for them as well. Remember, these are not ordinary bed bugs, these are New York bed bugs.

Tuesday in Paris

Yesterday, Monday, was a day spent looking at art, meeting old friends, making plans and hanging out with regular friends, talking and laughing over a glass of good French wine - red - sitting outside, enjoying the perfect sunny weather and temperature.

In the early evening I spent some time looking at a collection of 18th century Moghul miniature paintings of architectural sights in New Delhi. They were very well drawn and very interesting, but alas not my area of study.

For dinner I went out with one of the worlds top map experts and map dealers, a local, although Dutch. He did the inviting and I did the eating. The food was excellent - the best meal in Paris so far.

Tonight, after an afternoon of looking at art, I hope to meet up with Charles R. and go out for dinner and a drink. I leave Paris at 10:30 tomorrow morning, Wednesday, and should be back in New York by 1:30 in the afternoon.

I am looking forward to the opening of the contemporary Tibetan art exhibition at the RMA on Thursday night. The after party is at Merchants - just around the corner. I have reserved the downstairs room for 8:00 p.m. and expect between 20 or 30 people to attend. The party is to celebrate Pema's first showing of contemporary art, three paintings, in a museum exhibition accompanied by a museum art publication. Many of his art students have become RMA members just so that they can attend the opening and celebrate Pema's art. It should be a good time.

Tibetan Style Tattoos

Well I'm not into getting tattoos, piercings or brandings but I love Japanese tattoo art, Hawaiian, Maori, Thai, Burmese, Laotian and Cambodian. Yoni Zilbur, an artist as well as an accomplished New York tattoo artist has studied with Pema Rinzin for several years and now designs his own tattoos based on traditional Tibetan subjects, themes and motifs. Some of the images are really quite amazing. Check out Yoni's webpage to see Pema Rinzin's influence on the New York tattoo scene.

If It's Sunday, It Must Be Paris

I traveled on the airline known as Open Skies, apparently connected or owned by British Airways. The flight was quite comfortable although I always find that there is more turbulence flying to Europe than flying anywhere else. The day is somewhat unscheduled as yet. I need to find out when the Guimet is open and when Christie's is open. I am in a hotel just off the Champs Elysee and can walk to Christie's from here but I don't know where the Guimet is in comparison to the hotel. I will need a map and someone to circle both the hotel and the museum.

The hotel, Rochester Champs Elysee, has wifi internet throughout which is very convenient. Unfortunately the room will not be ready until 11:00. I didn't sleep at all on the plane and am afraid to take a nap as I think that will send a signal to my body and brain to completely shut down for a good eight to ten hours. As some may know, I have not been sleeping very well in the apartment of late. Friday night was also late with little sleep. I was out with a Tibetan painter and and an excellent New York tattoo artist that is a student of Pema Rinzin. I will post pictures as soon as I get some - preferably art, and good art at that.

The entire afternoon was spent at the Mussee Guimet and what a Museum it was. They had an outstanding Gandharan exhibition aside from their world class Cambodian sculpture and the permanent Tibetan and Himalayan galleries.

A Bold Attack & Postponement of Battle!

Last night was a set back for me. After the previous night with no bites last night at approximately 3:30 a.m. there was a definite attack with some force. I received six small bites, two to each leg, and two on my upper right arm. I looked for the bugs on the bed and under but could see nothing. They are likely to be in the infant stage yet big enough to draw blood. They are very difficult to see at this phase of their development. I have been both spraying and cleaning regularly but apparently to no avail as this second or third nesting of eggs has hatched. My gut feeling tells me they are between and under the floor boards.

Once I know when the exterminators are returning again for the third spraying then I can plan on spreading diamataceous dust throughout the apartment floor completely filling the numerous spaces between the floor boards.

Any good commander knows when it is time to back off and change the strategy. A new campaign is opening on Monday morning which will make it difficult to continue the fight against the bugs. The property management company plans to start work on replacing roof above my apartment, I am on the top floor, making it intolerable to remain here in the apartment. Yes, the roof leaks as well. The work will probably last for two weeks.

The worst part of it is that the ceiling in the apartment is not completely closed in and sealed. The edge of the ceiling that butts up against the brick wall is not flush but rather has gaping openings that go directly into the sub-roof. Whenever someone walks on the roof, or roofers are working, then a tremendous amount of dust, sand, dirt, and rock fall directly into the apartment through these openings creating a huge mess. The same debris also falls down through the chimney and out through the fireplace opening.

In preparation most of my belongings are wrapped in plastic bags already because of the bugs, and the remainder of the possessions such as bed and computer, lamps, chairs, telephone, T.V. etc., will need to be completely covered in plastic as well. Once the roof work is finished and before returning back to the apartment it will require a good professional cleaning with an industrial vacuum and a lot of effort.

So, the battle of the bugs is on hold for awhile. In the meantime I have not been offered any kind of accommodations by the property management company and therefore I am on my own with finding a place to stay here in New York or choosing to travel and working from afar. I will share my experience as it unfolds.

Hallelujah, Bed Bugs Be Gone - Damn It All

Hallelujah, an amazing thing happened, I, in frustration, sent a strong e-mail to my boss and cc'ed the property management company responsible for the apartment and building, in which I dwell in New York City. I complained of a lack of communication and a lack of any, I repeat ANY, communication with the property management company, other than dealing with the super. I also cc'ed it to many of the other officials responsible for the ownership of the building - which by the way has an un-controlled BED BUG problem - that is, the whole building.

Hallelujah, I sent out the e-mail at approximately 2:00 p.m. today and by the time I arrived back at the apartment (to find a U.S. Census notification of a non-compliance of not responding to the racist U.S. census, I'M SORRY - RACIST, I turned around at approximately 8:00 p.m.), pushed under my door at 8:00, and there it was. There was a correspondence from the management company, the gold, the treasure, a Rosetta Stone, Magna Carta, it was all there - an acceptance, an acknowledgment of a problem, a faint wish - maybe, to possibly wish to remedy the awful situation.

See the image, the document above, see what was presented after several months of discussion, complaining and bitching. A letter, as if they were on top of it, Ha Ha, what a lark, in control, masters of their domain - HELL NO! They have been pushed into a corner by my e-mail and they are simply responding, reacting, appearing competent. Please don't think there is an end in sight. This is New York, there are winners and losers and nobody has time for anybody who stands in between.