Zangmo Alexander

Photography

I draw, paint, photograph, make video, and write as supports for long-term awareness meditation training in the Tibetan Buddhist Mahamudra and Dzogchen traditions. Over the years this has evolved into a number of ongoing projects, including “Tell Me What You Are” which I’m offering here.

“Tell Me What You Are” consists of seventeen photographic images I made in a darkroom without a camera, using only traditional chemical processes, a variety of light sources, transparent objects and light sensitive paper. When I showed peers these images prior to exhibiting, the common response was a bemused “What are these photographs of? Photography records recognisable physical reality as it is — doesn’t it?”

Not being able to recognise or conceptually label the contents of these images in terms of the known can be an invitation to notice one’s own responses: the thoughts, feelings, fantasies, memories and sensations as they arise, remain and dissolve in the space of awareness. One could even rest in the unchanging awareness-emptiness itself. The images then become supports for shamatha and vipashyana meditation.

If you are not sure how to approach these images, here are some suggestions which I hope will help:

1. Beforehand: pause to notice how you feel, then set the intention to just be with each image with an open, aware mind for at least two minutes.

2. While looking at each image: notice sensations, thoughts, feelings, memories and anything else arising and passing through the open space of awareness. You don’t need to stop anything, the point is to be aware.

3. After looking at each image: pause to rest in the space of open awareness before moving on to the next image.

For me, these photographic images invite me to become more aware of my mind’s projections, my kleshas and awareness itself. I’d be interested to hear your responses! Your feedback via alexanderzangmo@googlemail.com is very welcome and warmly invited!

I live in Suffolk, United Kingdom, where I have been exploring ways of synthesizing mixed media visual art with meditation and contemplation in the Tibetan Buddhist Mahamudra and Dzogchen traditions since 2005. Making art now supports awareness practice and creative process has become part of spiritual practice. I'm finding that making art is an opening into pure joy, essence, a voyage of discovery in which spiritual practice, everyday life and creativity intimately inform and nurture each other in a mutual dance. I find it pretty weird being an embodied consciousness.

More on Zangmo Alexander’s work can be found on our Links page.