Thongdrol Film
Presented by the Living Buddha- HH the 17th Karmapa- this film will introduce and unravel the amazing insights found in traditional Tibetan art.
Two Western artists devoted to this esoteric art form were destined to recreate two of the most sacred pieces of Tibetan Art destroyed during the Cultural Revolution thereby reviving an age old tradition at Karmapa's Tsurphu monastery - nestled 4600m up in theTibet's mountains.
As we explore the significance of these giant thangkas and the Karma Gadri School we witness the intricate process of creating an image by the artists.
Here, principles of sacred geometry and the symbolic meaning of thangkas in general, highlighting the purposes behind this art form are revealed.
The film also gives a fascinating insight into the man who represents one of the oldest lineages in Tibetan Buddhism - the 17th Karmapa.
In 1994 the Karma Gadri Thangka was completed. One of four giant applique treasures once possessed by Tsurphu Monastery, Tibet. Tsurphu Monastery home to the Karma Kagyu Lineage and all 17 of the Gyalwa Karmapa incarnations since 1187.
In the 14th century the 4th Karmapa Rolpe Dorje created the first giant applique thangka thus beginning a tradition adopted by all the main lineages of Tibetan Buddhism.
The four giant applique of Tsurphu were lost to the Temple during the Cultural Revolution. Three of the appliques have been re-created with the help of two Western artists trained in Tibetan art, Terris and Leslie Nguyen Temple. The White Conch Factory's six female applique masters did all the sewing. A fourth and final applique, the Tsechur Drabje is now being planned, so with its completion all of Tsurphu's past treasures will be restored and continue to send their blessings to the world.
The film will focus on the importance of the sacred geometry of Buddhist art and the concept of "thongdrol", meaning liberation by sight.
A new giant thangka is being planned, and with this thangka and through the making in the past of the Karma Gadri Thangka and the three other appliques, the step by step process can be examined.
His Holiness's explanations a first look through the eyes of a great Tibetan master on this subject on film. The unique Karma Gadri School, of the Karma Kagyu Lineage both add to this rich subject and will make clear this important art tool.
His Holiness the 17th Karmapa, Terris and Leslie, various art scholars, together with Living Films, Chiang Mai, Thailand will give this feature documentary a new vision of this fascinating subject.
We would like to thank the Rubin Foundation for their generous support of this project.
http://www.livingfilms.com/projects/Documentaries/Thong-Drol/ fascinating culture treasure.
http://vimeo.com/21792988
http://liberation-arts.org/projects/55-thongdrol-film-.html
| File | Description |
|---|---|
 Thongdrol proposal, Tibetan Art with His Holiness the 17th Karmapa, | Thongdrol, liberation by sight |