KAILAS, Gang Rinpoche, The Snow Jewel Print - Limited Edition of 108

An artist book with 12 original Earth Art Works. With the blessings of S.H., 37. Drikung Kyabong Chetsang Rinpoche, E.G. wandered round Kailas, the most sacred mountain, the centre of the world, on the Kora, the path used by pilgrims since ancient times. Between august 13th and 16th, he collected 12 SOILS. The 12 resulting Terragraphies that form the heart of this 'Tibetan Book' were printed by himself on BFK Rives 300g. They are complemented by four pages of text, selected by Drubpoen Sonam Jorphel Rinpoche in Kathmandu from the book 'The perfect clear crystal mirror - A short summery from the history of the early events at the Kailash and Manasarovar' by H.H. Choekyi Lodroe, the 34. Drikung Kyabgoen Chungtsang Rinpoche (1868 - 1906). The text was completed in Kakhschoung, Kailas, on the first day of the 12th tibetan month of 1896, the year of the Fire-Monkey. These four pages of text were cut by hand into wooden printing blocks in Kathmandu and then printed on Lokta Paper 80g. This paper is obtained from the bark of the daphne-bush growing in the Himalaya and is traditionally hand-dipped. Jimmy Thapa organized and supervised the production of these pages. Tara Kokta, Kathmandu, translated them into German, Louise Patterson, Munich, into English. The blessings of the Dalai Lama, the preface by S.H. Drikung Kyabon Chetsang, the conceptual framework, the translations, the map of the pilgrims' path, the list of excavation sites and the imprint were all printed on Lokta paper by E.G as well. The wooden book covers were designed by Jimmy Thapa according to ancient Tibetan books. Under his supervision, they were then handcarved in Kathmandu from wood of seasum-trees from Lumbini, Buddhas birthplace. J.T. also contributed his own view on the project on one page of description of the Kailas project. The book in 36 x 36 cm format, wrapped in Chinese silk, was printed in an edition of 108 copies. For Tibetans, this number has special significance: the translation of Buddha's writings into tibetan consists of 108 volumes; major monasteries have 108 rooms; prayer chaplets contain 108 beads and womens' hair is plaited into 108 plaits. Finally, after 108 pilgrimages around Kailas, the pilgrim is free to enter Nirvana. The Terragraphies are signed with a embossing stamp on the front and numbered on the back. The book is handsigned and numbered in the imprint. KAILAS - Concept In 1999 EG excavated the first SOIL for a Terragraphy project in Asia. It should be a further step in the progress of the realisation of the continuously growing 'Picture of the World'. In the middle of the biggest continent, in the Transhimalayan mountains, towers the most Sacred Mountain of the world, the KAILAS, which the Tibetans call Gang Rinpoche, the ice jewel. At its foot the four big rivers Indus, Brahmaputra, Sadletsch and Karnali rise. For more than a thousand years Hindi and Buddhist, Dschain and Bön have walked around this perfect mountain, the navel of the world, to get its blessing, to improve their Karma and to wipe out the sins of a whole life time. EG reached Tibet in August after a trek through West Nepal following the old pilgrim's path along the river Karnali and over the Nara La. Passing the Holy Lakes Raksastal and Manasarovar he reached the KAILAS by car at Darchen, the starting point of the pilgrim's path. In three days he walked around the Sacred Mountain on the traditional Kora. During the rounding he excavated 12 SOIL samples at the prostration sites and other significant places of this way. The number of SOIL samples corresponds to the 12 months of a year and the 12 years of a cycle. The TERRAGRAPHICS which have been printed with this SOIL symbolize the Kora and are a naturally given mandala of the path around the Holy Mountain. The 12 Terragraphics and 4 texts about the KAILAS form a square of 4 x 4 squares. The leafs are placed between hand carved wood covers which are wrapped in a yellow silk scarf. Both the square and the yellow colour are the Tibetan symbols for EARTH. The design of a "Tibetan Book" for this project has been chosen corresponding to the spiritual meaning of the work in the context to the 'picture of the world'. It represents Asia in this work of art.