| Artist: Masha Gambarov (MA)
"My work calls on the viewer to trust that, even in our troubled modern world, the spirit of true compassion is the most powerful of tools available for positive change. It is an investigation into the relationship between symbol and context and between hope and doubt.
In Tibetan Buddhism, the bodhisattvas Manjusri, Avalokiteshvara, and Vajrapani are commonly depicted as a trinity to embody the wisdom, compassion, and power of the Buddha, respectfully. My three works are modern interpretations of traditional Tibetan and Nepali thangka scrolls depicting these three powerful beings. Although the background elements in my works are reminiscent of traditional thangka iconography, the figures find themselves far from their familiar settings and all but overwhelmed by some of the gravest issues plaguing modern times. The newspaper collage elements bring focus to tumultuous political, economic, and environmental current events and present the three bodhisattvas with the most formidable of modern challenges to the compassionate spirit.
Even in this unfamiliar world, however, the figures remain central, steady, and peaceful. Ultimately, they feel themselves at home regardless of context and so assert the relevance of bodhicitta, the ultimate compassionate impulse, to the world we live in today." |
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