Experiment with Forms - Art by Tenzing Rigdol

Tibetan-Born Artist in Solo Show at Rossi & Rossi, London

Feb 13, 2009 Frances Spiegel

A solo exhibition by Tibetan-born artist Tenzing Rigdol features 20 items including a video installation, sculpture, photographs, drawings and paintings.

Tenzing Rigdol has previously exhibited in shows in London, Hong Kong, Shanghai, New York and other American cities but this is his first solo show to be held in Europe. This small but vibrant exhibition features 20 items including sculpture, photographs, drawings, paintings and a video installation.

Tenzing Rigdol

Tenzing Ridgol was born in Kathmandu, Nepal, in 1982. He now resides permanently in the United States with his family. Rigdol studied Buddhist philosophy, Tibetan sand painting and butter sculpture and has a degree in Tibetan traditional thangka painting. (Thangka's are embroidered or painted banners displayed in Buddhist homes and used in Buddhist ceremonies.)

Scripture Noodle and Beace Mandala - Video Installation

Rigdol's art is heavily influenced by western and Tibetan culture, politics, human conflict and Buddhist philosophy. One of the highlights of this presentation is the seven-minute video entitled Scripture Noodle in which the artist creates an intriguing stir-fry. Rigdol has been influenced by the Buddhist saying: "Don't be the bowl that carries the soup, be the mouth that gulps it". In the film he slices a Buddhist text into thin strips. He then chops herbs and vegetables, cooks them in a wok and consumes this strange stir-fry from a polystyrene take-away container.

A second video, entitled Beace Mandala, shows the creation and destruction of a sand mandala. This performance piece was filmed in 2007 at the Ruben Museum of Art, New York. In the first half of the video a picture is constructed on a large flat surface. It took more than two weeks to create the mandala using millions of grains of crushed marble. The second half of the video shows a team of traditional dancers, who move slowly and rhythmically back and forth across the picture. It took less than two minutes to destroy the mandala.

Mandala of Kids

Also on display is Mandala of Kids. This acrylic painting on a canvas base is a permanent representation of the type of sand picture Rigdol likes to create. This particular piece has been influenced by the children's cartoons that he enjoyed as a child and features Minnie Mouse, Pop-Eye and Donald Duck and other cartoon characters.

Mic-key, Nya-key and Mickey Mandala

This is a very cheerful mandala (acrylic on canvas) and a clever play on words. 'Mickey' in the Tibetan language translates as 'people are happy'. 'Nya-key' means 'I am happy'. Rigdol has used this coincidence to create a mandala of happiness featuring the iconic image of Mickey Mouse.

Experiment with Forms - Catalogue

In support of the exhibition a full-colour catalogue, featuring an essay by Francesca Gavin, visual arts editor of Dazed & Confused, and author of several art publications, will be on sale.

Experiment with Forms runs until 27th March 2009 and full details can be obtained from Rossi & Rossi.

The copyright of the article Experiment with Forms - Art by Tenzing Rigdol in Art Galleries/Museums is owned by Frances Spiegel. Permission to republish Experiment with Forms - Art by Tenzing Rigdol in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.