The Painted Mantra

Tibetan calligraphy is a contemplative practice, or a Dharma art, known to purify and heal the practitioner. Join Tashi Mannox, calligrapher and artist, as he demonstrates the actualization of the Medicine Buddha Mantra, and invites the audience to draw with him. Part lecture/demonstration, part workshop. No experience necessary.
Pencil, paper, rulers, and drawing boards will be provided. Participants are encouraged to bring their own wide nib italic pens. No experience necessary.

A former Buddhist monk of the Tibetan Kagyu order and a student of the Karma Gardri Tibetan art tradition, Sherab Palden Beru, Tashi creates artwork that blends an eclectic range of disciplines within both the Eastern and Western traditions.
About the artist:
Prior to Tashi Mannox‘s public career as an artist, born to a Western (Buddhist) family in the UK, he spent 17 years as a Buddhist monk from the age of 21, based at the Samye Ling Buddhist centre in Scotland. This was during the timely construction of the first traditional Tibetan temple in the West, where Tashi was given the role of directing the elaborate interior decoration, as an apprentice, under the direction of the great master of Tibetan art, the late Sherab Palden Beru. During this time Tashi studied the multiple aspects of Tibetan Buddhist practices and ritual, music and dance, becoming the leader of chant and instructor in these arts himself. In addition to this he established and ran the ‘robes department’ that made ritual costumes, brocade thangka mounting as well as traditional monks robes and ritual hats.

Tashi’s Career in Calligraphy began as a scribe; copying ancient Tibetan manuscripts for their preservation and use within the monastery. This was uncharacteristically undertaken during a traditional three-year retreat, a job given to Tashi to keep his young restless mind busy between practice sessions. The late Akong Rinpoché, known for his impeccable standards, encouraged Tashi in the art of calligraphy that lead him to learn all of the several traditional script styles to the highest level. Both the late Chogyam Trungpa and the present Tai Situ Rinpoché played on important role in Tashi’s ‘contemporary’ development of Tibetan calligraphy art. While on several lengthy visits to Samye Ling, Situ Rinpoché shared with Tashi his knowledge and approach to calligraphy art and approved Tashi’s first personal seal.

Although based on a rigorous traditional training that laid a firm foundation, today Tashi Mannox enjoys the freedom to create in the contemporary art world, communicating to a wider audience than just Tibetan Buddhists.
He has exhibited publicly for the past fourteen years, more recently along-side eminent Islamic calligraphers at the Sharjah Calligraphy biannual, in the Arab Emirates. In 2007 Tashi was chosen as the sole representative of Tibetan calligraphy and of Great Britain, with the Contemporary Museum of Calligraphy in Moscow, which represents the select best of the most prominent calligraphy world traditions.

www.tashimannox.com