Shadows of the Awakened

Isaac Katzoff emigrated from the USA in 2007, where he trained for a BFA and worked for several years as a glass blower. Much of his work is based in the idea that every object represents an accumulation of knowledge.

This suite of artworks is an abbreviation and elaboration on sacred Tibetan images. The magical combination of these two lineages, one precise; full of detailed symbolism, the other organic and free flowing, is a translation of Buddhist Art from the Tibetan tradition for a contemporary Western audience. The shadows of the awakened refers to the immense potential of each person. As a shadow resembles its owner, so do we resemble our highest potential.  Each deity present, shows an aspect of this potential. Medicine Buddha represents supreme wellbeing. Green Tara embodies swift enlightened action driven by wisdom and compassion. Vajravarahi cuts away delusional states of mind. Chenrezig offers love, joy, compassion and equanimity to all. The use of precious metals have been used to honour the divine in many religious traditions, whist the use of New Zealand earth connects the artwork to the terra energies of Aotearoa. Ella Brewer’s practice supports Buddhists in the Vajrayana school of Tibetan Buddhism.  She engages teenagers in art / mindfulness education at Epsom Girls Grammar. Recently her practice has evolved to support the critical new field of the Wellbeing Sector, bridging health, education and the visual arts. Her intention is to offer new ways of seeing our human potential.  The magical combination of these two lineages, one precise; full of detailed symbolism, the other organic and free flowing, is a translation of Buddhist Art from the Tibetan tradition for a contemporary Western audience.

The Shadows of The Awakened refers to the immense potential of each person. As a shadow resembles its owner, so do we resemble our highest potential. Each deity present, shows an aspect of this potential. Green Tara embodies swift enlightened action driven by wisdom and compassion. Vajravarahi cuts away delusional states of mind. The use of precious metals have been used to honour the divine in many religious traditions, whist the use of New Zealand earth connects the artwork to the terra energies of Aotearoa.

There are tools used in Ella’s studio brought in 1997 in Menorca as a part of the equipment required by Ella’s teacher Andy Weber during her study of Tibetan drawing. Ella’s belief is, that in blessing the art equipment one uses and keeping the study clean and organised, these simple acts of daily ritual become an important part of the meditation and painting practice. 

Bringing the form back. The part of the process reflects the words of Jnanadhara, Ella’s brother, was ordained into the Triratna Buddhist Order in 2003. Soon after he moved to Dublin and since then has been teaching classes at the DBC. Jnanadhara is current chair of the charity that runs the DBC. “Buddhism continues to be important to me because the perspectives and practices that it gives provide a way to access an experience that I can only describe as ‘newness’ - a sense that I'm living in a new world with a new mind.” The flowering process often covers the outline Ella Provides. When the flowers are all pressed in the outline is redone to see the emergence of the form in a new and different light. 

To eliminate ignorance and cut the root of samsara we need to realize the right view. Even actions such as having a party, if they are done with the realization of emptiness or with the understanding that they are merely labeled by the mind or a hallucination, like a dream or like an illusion, become an antidote to samsara and a cause to achieve liberation, the ultimate happiness. – Lama Zopa Rinpoche 

Minding the gap between where we are and where we know we can go describes the space this work inhabits. These deities inhabit our homes with us guiding the construction of the works. The window map is changed depending on who we are honouring in the moment of production. Letting these images serve as a guide to your highest potential. That of a Buddha. 

The dye preparation. Using natural dyes to tint the ground is the first or second step after placing the deity on the paper. This is according to Max Gimblett’s advice - The preparation of the ground supports the creation of the image. These two dyes form the ground of Vajravarahi, diamond sow. She will be placed upon a blessed ground of Tanekaha which was used medicinally as an astringent and antimicrobial agent by Maori people and early European settlers, combined with turkish Indigo. To create the earth and the sky for her enlightened environment. 

Our inspirations come in many different shapes and forms. We are blessed be supported by the Buddhist community as the shared intention of the work has made this project truly transformational. Ella and Tiffany are both keenly aware of the power of Art to imagine a better life. We envisage a place for Art close to education and health, to enhance awareness and wellbeing. We hope that this collaboration will encourage others to stand together to uplift those who are weary, to give hope to the forlorn and pleasure to those in pain. 

Dusting the silver on Chenrezig the Buddha of Compassion. "Every person whose heart is moved by love and compassion, who deeply and sincerely acts for the benefit of others without concern for fame, profit, social position, or recognition expresses the activity of Chenrezig."- Bokar Rinpoche

The process aids the outcome. The Pansy hold a special place in our hearts as a particularly European and humble flower, seen in Victorian flower symbolism as representing thoughts. Here they are included to emphasize that all happiness and all suffering from our own mind. To achieve happiness, according to Buddhist teachings, we cultivate all positive qualities such as generosity, patience, enthusiasm, and eliminate all destructive mental states such as greed, anger and ignorance.  The initial dye process is formed by pouring collected rain water onto the pressed pansies and allowing the pigments to bleed.

Ella Brewer’s practice supports Buddhists in the Vajrayana school of Tibetan Buddhism, and engages teenagers in art / mindfulness education. Recently her practice has evolved to support the critical new field of the Wellbeing Sector, bridging health, education and the visual arts. Her intention is to offer new ways of seeing our human potential. 

The magical combination of these two lineages, one precise; full of detailed symbolism, the other organic and free flowing, is a translation of Buddhist Art from the Tibetan tradition for a contemporary Western audience.