Artist Interview—Tenzing Rigdol Commission-Mandalas | Met Exhibitions

Summary

Tenzing Rigdol, a contemporary artist, explores the profound concept of mandalas and tantra in his art. His installation, 'Biography of a Thought,' reflects on the mind's workings through a series of four paintings. Each piece delves into themes of self-awareness, karma, human conflict, and inner calm. Inspired by cultural and spiritual traditions, Rigdol emphasizes interdependence and compassion while encouraging viewers to reflect on their thoughts. His work merges traditional techniques with modern events, inviting audiences into a deep meditation on the nature of existence and enlightenment.

Takeaways

• 🔵 Mandala is a Sanskrit concept meaning 'complete circle,' often used to represent theories about the mind.
• 🖼️ Tenzing Rigdol's artwork, particularly his mandala paintings, allows viewers to metaphorically enter his mind.
• 🧘 Tantra emphasizes calming the mind, understanding the self, and spreading love and compassion.
• 🎨 Rigdol incorporates over 50 different shades of blue in his work, symbolizing calm and coldness.
• 🖌️ The artwork 'Biography of a Thought' reflects his interpretation of Tantra, exploring how thoughts form and interact.
• 🧠 The second panel of the work explores the chaos created by unstable minds, referencing events like Hiroshima, Nagasaki, and gun violence.
• 💡 The third panel introduces stability, symbolized by a half-male, half-female figure, and discusses human commonality.
• 🌍 The fourth panel focuses on calmness, symbolizing thoughts as clouds settling into a clearer sky of awareness.
• 👐 Rigdol integrates symbolic elements like American Sign Language and Braille to make his art inclusive and multilayered.
• 🌟 Rigdol’s mandala is a reflection of the interconnectedness of life, inspired by Buddha’s enlightenment and the interdependence of all things.

Q & A

What is the significance of the mandala in Tenzing Rigdol's work?

The mandala represents a complete circle and serves as a metaphor for understanding the mind. Tenzing Rigdol uses it to symbolize the workings of his thoughts and invites viewers to enter his mind through the artwork.

How does Tenzing Rigdol describe the connection between Tantra and his art?

Rigdol sees Tantra as central to his cultural practice, focusing on calming the mind, understanding oneself, and spreading compassion. His work explores the nuances of thoughts and how they shape human experiences.

What are the primary locations where Tenzing Rigdol works, and how do they influence his art?

Rigdol splits his time between New York and Nepal. Nepal’s calm atmosphere and rich tantric sites deeply influence his art, while New York is where much of his composition and conceptual work takes place.

What message does Rigdol convey in the first panel of 'Biography of a Thought'?

The first panel introduces the principles of Tantra, focusing on calming the mind and understanding the self. It also reflects Rigdol’s journey of learning and the influence of karma, showing the impact of our actions on the world.

How does Rigdol integrate historical and contemporary events in his artwork?

Rigdol addresses historical tragedies like Hiroshima and Nagasaki and contemporary issues such as the George Floyd incident and gun violence. These events symbolize the consequences of an unstable mind creating an unstable world.

What role does the concept of interdependence play in Rigdol's mandala?

Interdependence is central to Rigdol’s mandala. He illustrates the interconnectedness of all beings, drawing from Buddhist teachings that emphasize seeing the world as a web of connections, as Buddha did upon enlightenment.

How does Tenzing Rigdol use metaphors in his artwork?

Rigdol embeds various metaphors, such as clouds representing thoughts or hands symbolizing deities and American Sign Language. These metaphors invite viewers to interpret layers of meaning within the artwork.

What does Rigdol mean by the phrase 'Biography of a Thought'?

The title 'Biography of a Thought' represents the journey and evolution of thoughts within the mind. The artwork explores the progression from chaotic thinking to a calm, reflective state.

How does Rigdol address the issue of technology in his art?

Rigdol critiques the overuse of technology, like smartphones, which drain attention from meaningful contemplation. He references figures like whistleblowers who expose truths but whose messages get lost in the noise of modern technology.

What is the significance of Rigdol’s use of different languages and symbols in his paintings?

Rigdol incorporates Braille, American Sign Language, and visual symbols to make his art more inclusive and thought-provoking. These elements encourage viewers to engage deeply and decipher hidden messages within the artwork.

Outlines

00:00

🎨 Entering the Mandala and Understanding the Mind

Tenzing Rigdol introduces the concept of the mandala, explaining its roots in Sanskrit, meaning 'complete circle.' He discusses how mandalas represent the mind, allowing people to understand and unravel their thoughts. Viewing his artwork, particularly mandalas, is akin to entering his mind. He describes his work across New York and Nepal, sharing how Kurt Behrendt, a curator, approached him for a tantric show. Rigdol reflects on how the exhibition space felt spiritual, resembling a mandala itself. Tantra, as he explains, emphasizes calming the mind and self-understanding. Rigdol’s artistic journey is deeply connected to this philosophy as he interprets rather than prescribes it, exploring the complex nature of thoughts and their governing principles.

05:01

🧠 The Symbolism of Ignorance and the Journey of Thought

Rigdol continues by explaining how his self-portrayal with a wrapped head in his paintings symbolizes his acknowledgment of ignorance. He shares a desire to learn and invites viewers to join him in this journey. He cleverly notes how 'Biography of a Thought' forms the acronym 'BOAT.' The first painting introduces him as ready to learn, using metaphors like G.I.G.O. (garbage in, garbage out) to reflect on karma. The second painting explores the unstable mind and its impact on the world, with references to historical tragedies like Hiroshima, Nagasaki, and the Twin Towers, alongside contemporary issues like gun violence and racial injustice. Tantra, he says, guides people to look to the past for wisdom, not hatred.

10:02

🌀 Stabilizing the Mind and Finding Unity

As the journey progresses to the third panel, Rigdol depicts the process of stabilizing the mind. He includes references to Picasso’s 'Les Demoiselles d’Avignon' and the tantric concept of Ardhanari, symbolizing the balance between male and female energies. He reflects on the interconnectedness of people, where uniqueness exists alongside shared experiences. Quoting tantric texts, Rigdol likens self-awareness to a fish jumping out of the ocean and seeing the sky, only to be pulled back. He draws parallels with modern whistleblowers like Snowden and Assange, commenting on how technology drains attention. The metaphor of clouds representing thoughts builds toward the fourth panel, where calm and clarity emerge.

☁️ Reaching Calm and Connecting through Awareness

In the fourth and final panel, Rigdol emphasizes the importance of calming the mind, letting thoughts settle like clouds in the sky. He explores the idea of reducing thought and embracing love, reflecting on how tantra can be interpreted on many levels. The centerpiece of the artwork speaks to the interconnectedness of all beings, inspired by Buddha’s enlightenment moment where he saw the universe within a withered leaf. Rigdol embeds hidden symbols throughout the painting, including references to American Sign Language and Braille, inviting viewers to engage deeply with the art. The mandala serves as a reflection of our current world, urging a re-tuning of our collective consciousness.

Keywords

💡Mandala

A mandala is a geometric representation symbolizing the universe in Hindu and Buddhist symbolism. In the video, Tenzing Rigdol explains that a mandala, which means 'complete circle' in Sanskrit, can represent complex theories about the mind and its workings. He uses the concept of a mandala to visually express his thoughts and emotions, inviting viewers to 'enter his mind' by experiencing the artwork.

💡Tantra

Tantra refers to esoteric traditions and practices within Buddhism and Hinduism that focus on spiritual growth, the nature of self, and the interconnection of all things. Rigdol highlights the significance of Tantra in his cultural practice and art, emphasizing its role in calming the mind, understanding the nature of self, and spreading love and compassion. His installation explores these themes by visualizing the nuances of thoughts and human experience.

💡Biography of a Thought

This is the title of Rigdol’s installation, symbolizing the journey and evolution of a single thought through various stages. The artwork is divided into four panels, each representing different aspects of thought and human experience—from the chaos of an unstable mind to the serenity of a calm, reflective state. The title plays with the idea that thoughts, like people, have histories and narratives that shape our understanding of the world.

💡Interdependence

Interdependence refers to the interconnectedness of all beings and phenomena. In the video, Rigdol illustrates this concept through his art, drawing inspiration from the Buddha's enlightenment experience where he saw the interconnected nature of all things. His work emphasizes that every element in the universe, like a withered leaf or a star, is connected, which is a fundamental principle in both Buddhist philosophy and his artistic expression.

💡Ignorance

Ignorance in the context of Rigdol’s work is a humble acknowledgment of the limits of one’s own knowledge. He often depicts himself in his paintings with his head wrapped, symbolizing not the celebration of ignorance but a recognition of his own limitations and a willingness to learn and share knowledge. This motif is a recurring theme in his art, representing his journey of self-discovery and intellectual exploration.

💡Thoughts

Thoughts are central to Rigdol’s installation, representing both the source of chaos and the potential for peace. He explores how different thoughts—whether calm, angry, or joyful—shape human experience and reality. In the fourth panel, thoughts are symbolized by clouds, with the aim of showing how thoughts can settle and become clearer, leading to a state of greater awareness and understanding.

💡Enlightenment

Enlightenment in Buddhism is the state of ultimate wisdom and understanding. Rigdol references this concept by using metaphorical imagery, such as the story of Buddha seeing the interdependence of all things upon his enlightenment. He also plays with the idea of '15 minutes of enlightenment,' paralleling Andy Warhol’s concept of 15 minutes of fame, to illustrate brief moments of profound realization and clarity in the human experience.

💡Karma

Karma, in Buddhist and Hindu belief, is the principle of cause and effect where actions have consequences. Rigdol uses this concept in his first panel to illustrate how actions, whether good or bad, return to us like garbage thrown into the ocean. This visual metaphor emphasizes the cyclical nature of karma and the impact of human actions on the world and on ourselves.

💡Mindfulness

Mindfulness refers to the practice of being fully present and engaged in the current moment. Rigdol discusses this concept in the context of Tantra and his art practice, where he believes that being completely attentive to the process of painting consecrates the artwork. His installation invites viewers to sit, calm their minds, and reflect, embodying the essence of mindfulness in both creation and experience.

💡American Sign Language (ASL)

ASL is used creatively in Rigdol’s installation to incorporate messages and symbolic meanings into the artwork. For example, he uses ASL to spell out 'Up is down,' reflecting the theme of perception and reality being opposite or in flux. This incorporation of ASL adds a layer of accessibility and hidden meaning to his work, encouraging viewers to engage with the art on multiple sensory and intellectual levels.

Highlights

Mandala represents the mind's workings and how it functions, and Tenzing Rigdol's mandala offers an entry into his own thoughts.

Rigdol works between New York and Nepal, balancing cultural influences from both locations in his artwork.

Tantra is a significant cultural practice, aiming to calm the mind, understand the self, and spread love and compassion.

Rigdol describes himself not as a Buddhist, but as a 'Buddhalogist,' appreciating the importance of the past while reinterpreting it in contemporary art.

Tantra explores the nuances of thoughts, how they arise, and what happens when they accumulate, which is central to Rigdol's artistic exploration.

Rigdol's art retreat in Nepal allowed him to delve deeply into his work, using over 50 different shades of blue to evoke calmness in the mind.

The installation 'Biography of a Thought' is divided into four paintings and a central carpet, inviting viewers to sit physically and metaphorically calm their minds.

The first panel introduces the fundamental principles of tantra: calming the mind and understanding its nature.

Rigdol's repeated self-portrait, with his head wrapped, symbolizes his acknowledgment of ignorance and his desire to share the little he knows with others.

The second panel explores how an unstable mind leads to an unstable world, depicting major events like Hiroshima, Nagasaki, and gun violence.

Rigdol critiques overuse of technology, drawing attention to whistleblowers like Snowden and Assange, who expose truths ignored by society.

The third panel introduces Picasso's 'Les Demoiselles d’Avignon' and explores the balance between male and female energies, a core concept in tantra.

The fourth panel focuses on calming thoughts, with clouds representing different emotional states, gradually leading to a clearer sky of awareness.

Rigdol emphasizes interdependence, referencing the Buddha's enlightenment moment when he saw connections between all things, from leaves to stars.

The mandala incorporates hidden elements, like American Sign Language and Braille, to engage viewers in deciphering and imagining deeper meanings.

Rigdol's mandala reflects the untuned state of the world today, offering windows and doors within the artwork for viewers to explore and reflect.

Transcripts

[Tenzing Rigdol] Mandala is a very interesting concept.

In Sanskrit it means complete circle.

And traditionally any kind of theory about the mind and how it works

they try to represent it in mandala form.

You can decipher it.

Unknot it.

And then when you open it up, it's basically talking about

how your mind works.

And here, when people enter the mandala

looking at the painting, you're entering my mind.

My name is Tenzing Rigdol.

I work in New York and in Nepal.

I spend my time between these two countries.

[Kurt Behrendt] It's all like ground minerals

to make the pigments, but it's, you know, it's flexible.

And so you can roll it, you know, even these you can see

how often this has been rolled and unrolled and it's still hasn't flaked.

[Tenzing Rigdol] Kurt Behrendt, the curator,

approached me and said he has this idea

of a tantric show

which involves mandalas and all these things.

He said, “Are you interested?”

“And maybe I can show you the space.”

Immediately, when I saw the space,

even though there are lots of people, somehow it felt very quiet.

It felt very spiritual, church like,

you know, with the lights coming from the sky.

It almost looked like

the very space could be a whole mandala.

Tantra is a very significant part of our cultural practice.

Tantra really talks about calming your mind.

Understanding your very nature of self.

Spreading love and compassion.

I used to call it, I'm not a Buddhist,

I’m a Buddhalogist, you know, because I used to study.

But I'm now beginning to appreciate this.

Because you can't have a continuity without a past.

But the work I'm doing

is more like, interpreting it.

It's not really somebody who has understood and prescribing it.

And for me, it seems that

Tantra really is in some ways

trying to understand the nuances of thoughts.

How thoughts happen.

What are the basic governing principles with which you have

a thing called thought?

And what happens when many thoughts get together?

What kind of experience would it lead to?

For about two years I worked on the composition in New York.

And then from there to here, three years or so,

I have been in an art retreat, I call it.

Nepal is such a beautiful place.

The people are so calm.

You have all these tantric sites.

Even Buddha was born there.

It's like a very special place.

I thought it has to happen in Nepal.

I have such a wonderful team.

I’m a very nice person, but when it comes to painting,

I'm a little bit crazy.

So there’s one rule:

every drawing, every color

I have to decide.

In one scripture about painting they say,

when you paint the sky, your mind will be cold and calm.

So the main color is blue.

We used at least 50 different blue colors.

I think contemporary artists can consecrate the artwork

by being absolutely attentive and just being lost in the painting.

Between the tip of the brush and me

there shouldn't be any interruption.

With really good attention,

anything you do becomes art.

The whole installation, I call it Biography of a Thought.

The installation, in essence, can be just divided into half.

There are basically four paintings around the walls.

Then the carpet, where I'm saying come,

watch the painting and then sit.

Physically, literally sit.

But metaphorically also sit your mind.

Then placing a question on that calm mind.

The first panel I introduce

the fundamental principles of tantra.

Calming your mind, understanding your mind, all these things.

In most of my work, I have this one element which is repeated here.

I am in the painting with my head wrapped around.

In all my paintings, that mostly symbolizes

not that I celebrate ignorance, but I'm saying I'm ignorant.

I don't know everything.

The little that I know I want to share with you, you know.

And so the journey can begin.

It's interesting if you just put the acronyms

Biography of a Thought becomes BOAT.

And in the first painting you have myself thrown into this world

ready to learn, you know, ready to unwrap a little bit more.

When I was young, I studied in computer class

they say, G.I.G.O., garbage in, garbage out.

So it was like, interesting.

I thought it was talking about karma or something.

So I thought, yeah.

The first panel was really talking

about how we throw garbage and everything in the ocean like that,

and you can also see the karma where everything you plant

coming back.

And then the second panel

really talks about what happens when unstable mind creates

unstable world.

How conflicts are created,

which are all human conflicts.

Therefore you have, like Hiroshima and Nagasaki, the bombing.

It's one of the most shocking events in world history.

There's the Twin Towers.

When I was doing the sketch and everything

the George Floyd incident happened.

There was all this anger, frustration.

And also you have very sad, but especially in America,

gun violence, children.

In Tantra,

you don't go to past to inherit hatred or, you know, make things worse.

You only visit past to inherit its wisdom.

And then,

slowly on the third panel we’re moving towards

how to stabilize.

I open up the painting with

Picasso's Les Demoiselles d’Avignon, the five ladies.

In the central image, I put this Ardhanari,

in Sanskrit they call it. Half female, half male.

You know, we are built of these two energies together.

Tantra, actually, is trying to find a commonality.

What is unique that is me, but also is you?

Unique but same.

In one of the tantric texts,

Padmasambhava, he says, nature of self is like

when a fish jumps off of the ocean and sees the sky for the first time.

So it's almost like this hand, like water,

comes and grabs him, pulls him back!

I call it 15 minutes of enlightenment.

Like Andy Warhol’s 15 minutes of fame.

I thought would be interesting

to talk about a few of those whistleblowers:

Haugen, Manning, Snowden, Julian Assange.

Individuals who are telling us, you know, these things are happening.

But that very attention is being

drained out of our system

by overuse of technologies like iPhone.

I'm, in a way, setting the stage for the fourth piece.

You have all these hands that are like iconometry of a deity,

and you can see in the hands it says, the American Sign Language,

“Up is down.”

And I'm really saying,

“Wouldn't it be nice if our brain is a stomach?”

We can only think enough.

Stomach can get full.

After that, we vomit.

Now is the time to limit your thought.

And then let's jump to the fourth panel.

Just sit.

Calming yourself.

And see whatever is the residue

is probably who you are.

I thought it would be interesting to play

with the idea of clouds being the thoughts.

Some clouds are like just jumping and playing,

some clouds are angry, some clouds are just relaxed.

And slowly on the fourth panel

you start seeing all the thoughts are settling.

And then the sky is like the awareness.

Hopefully we’ll have less thought

and more love.

One thing about tantra is,

the text can be read in many layers.

So in the centerpiece I'm talking about how in the end

we are all interdependent, how we are all connected.

It is said that when Buddha got enlightened,

he looked at a withered leaf.

He saw stars.

He saw clouds.

He saw rivers.

He saw the interdependence.

So throughout the painting I want to have lots of metaphor,

but also want it to be very inclusive.

I hide certain...

which looks like a deity’s hand, but actually it's American Sign Language.

You can decipher it.

Or some things will look like tiny polka dots or something like that,

but if you look carefully, they are all Braille.

So you'll find

small epigrams or like one line poems throughout the painting,

asking people to imagine.

In Tantra it’s said there's the third eye.

The eye that never blinks.

And Tantra says every human body has,

doesn't matter if you have external two eyes or not.

But that's the eye that we are trying to find.

Every mandala is really talking about

how to tune yourself to a better melody.

And now, if you look around, our world is quite untuned, no?

I have created many windows and doors.

If it pulls you,

get up, go there.

Come back, sit.

This mandala is a mandala of our time.