Sacred text

Sacred text

Meet the man who has done for Tibetan script what other cultures have long ago done for their own calligraphy: turned it into an art, while at the same time treating its creation as a spiritual endeavour

SOCIAL & LIFESTYLE
Sacred text
Jamyang Dorjee Chakrishar and his portrait of His Majesty King Bhumibol Adulyadej. Photos: Pornprom Satrabhaya

"This isn't just a bunch of squiggles fudging it, is it?" my photographer jokingly whispers. His question is legitimate, even if slightly demeaning. You'll be excused for asking that question if you're long-sighted, because to the naked eye, it really does look like a bunch of squiggly lines that add up to create a larger picture.

He "Aaaaaahs" with comprehension when I hand him a magnifying glass of the kind he was supposed to have picked up from the entrance, and he proceeds to look at each print all over again, this time through the lens. He is intrigued to see that all the minuscule lines actually make up mantras in the Tibetan language.

If you're in for a mind-tranquilising stroll, head over to Serindia Gallery at O.P. Garden, which should put you in the mood with its lush greenery that fills the premises. Currently displayed at the gallery is "Yig-tsal", the first-ever solo exhibition in Thailand of Sikkimese calligrapher Jamyang Dorjee Chakrishar.

As someone who works tirelessly to bring Tibetan calligraphy into the virtual world, he is also a world-record holder for creating the longest calligraphy scroll back in 2010, when his scroll of handmade Tibetan lokta paper measured 163m long. Using Tibetan calligraphy as the main gist of his showcase, the works can be categorised under two main threads: one is of miniature calligraphy that depicts Buddhist deities, while the other is of freehand brushworks that exhibit the depth and artistic flavour of Tibetan calligraphy. A calm will wash across you, even if you can't read a single word on the prints.

Pornprom Satrabhaya

"They say calligraphy sometimes speaks," says Chakrishar. "Of course, it cannot speak to you, but what they mean is that its boldness attracts you and gives you a positive feeling."

To create these pieces, the 65-year-old gets up at 5am every morning to work at his studio in Sikkim. Instead of chanting prayers out loud, Chakrishar sits down to write out the prayers with his 0.01 pen -- with the help of a magnifying glass -- which he finds just as meditative.

"Art is also a form of meditation, because naturally meditation helps people to calm down," he says. "I am always there at the tip of my pen and nowhere else, so it trains me to be mindful, to concentrate on one certain thing. Since my work comes from that, the result should also help others. I think you must feel some kind of peace, rather than agitation. I don't want to produce art that will make you even more sad -- there are already so many things in the world that give you reasons to be sad."

Tibetan script may have been around since the 7th century, but its evolution into a full-fledged art form was first brought to prominence by Chakrishar.

"Our king sent a minister to India to learn Indian script and then to create Tibetan script, so that we could translate Buddha dhamma into the local Tibetan language," explains the Tibet-born artist. "But the expression of script into an art form has never happened before -- partly because our masters were fully concentrating on the development of the inner sight and the mind. They probably had no time to exhibit by way of visual art and things like that."

A signed portrait of the Dalai Lama.

Clearly, these works have their roots in Buddhism, because the original formation of Tibetan script itself relates to the subject -- although the calligrapher insists that it need not be restricted to religion.

"Tibetan scripture is also a way to express Tibetan culture, identity and history, but I just feel that it has the energy and capacity to provide a very positive attitude toward art."

With his letters that outline the bodies of deities, you can logically deduce that the written prayers would have to relate to that particular deity. This creates the very manifestation of visual aide that can help people understand Buddhism more easily, something that the calligrapher intended.

"When you're asked to meditate on wisdom, how do you do that? We're human beings and we need some kind of form to relate to ourselves. So wisdom is like a river that flows and currently that river is frozen into the ice, which is the form of Manjushri, the deity of wisdom. We have statues to represent Buddha's body, stupas to represent his mind and scriptures and books to represent his speech. But you can't meditate on Buddha's books because you need a form to relate yourself to meditate upon. I felt that it was important that speech also have some form of visual expression, and that was the beginning for this Tibetan calligraphy."

Other freehand works have lessons of their own that invite mindfulness, with aphorisms such as "Sit alone and you'll find your true friend", and "Watch your mind". One of the highlighted pieces, of His Majesty King Bhumibol Adulyadej, is surrounded by the number nine and mantras of compassion, while his actual portrait is composed of prayers. The other featured piece is the portrait of the Dalai Lama, which Chakrishar describes as the highlight of his exhibitions.

Jamyang Dorjee Chakrishar SAUGATO SAHA

"This past March, my exhibition was organised by India's Ministry of Culture, and I was told His Holiness will inaugurate. I was very excited, of course. He spent around half-an-hour looking at them all and was full of praise and blessing. I had written a prayer asking that he live long and then requested that he sign it. He sat down, read it and was very happy and responded by writing on it, 'As you have prayed, I will also live long for the sentient beings'. "

This exhibition is clearly not short of world icons, for guests or subjects, but its true strength lies in its innovation of condensing Buddhism in a manner that makes it easier to digest and all the while pleasing to look at.

As the perfectly round strokes transport you into a trance, we'll leave you with this line the artist uses to capture what the religion he has practised since birth is all about: "We believe Buddhism is the science of mind and that you obtain happiness by helping others and by having patience. First, look at the calligraphy and painting. There's one object and there's you. After that, close your eyes and look at yourself. Now, look at the one that is looking at you. If you can find that, that's Buddhism."

"Yig-tsal: Calligraphy Art Of Tibet" will be on show until Sept 30 at Serindia Gallery, O.P. Garden, Charoen Krung 36. Open Tues to Sun, 11am-7pm. For additional information, please call 02-238-6410 or email serindiagallery@gmail.com

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