The Chörten enshrining the physical traces of the Mahasiddha Karma Raja

Kyabjé Künzang Dorje Rinpoche was the Tsa-wa’i Lama of Ngak’chang Rinpoche and Khandro Déchen.

The Chörten is situated in the shrineroom of Jomo Sam‘phel Déchen Rinpoche in Bodhanath, Nepal. To the side of the Chörten is a photoshop of a large appliqué thangka of Kyabjé Künzang Dorje Rinpoche made in Switzerland by Naljorma Nyima — an ordained disciple of Ngak’chang Rinpoche and Khandro Déchen.

Ngak’chang Rinpoche and Khandro Déchen and some of their sangha go to visit Jomo Sam‘phel Déchen Rinpoche every year in November and sit with her in this shrineroom — some students travel there to see Jomo Sam‘phel Déchen Rinpoche at other times. At the moment Naljorma Tsül’dzin is in Bodhanath visiting Jomo Sam‘phel Déchen Rinpoche.

During April this year Naljorma Tsül'dzin will be artist in residence at Gallery Mcube, a contemporary art gallery in Lilitpur in Patan founded by Nepali artist and curator Manish Lal Shrestha.

Manish Lal Shrestha initiated an international artists residency not only for artists such as Naljorma Tsül’dzin (to benefit from being in Nepal) — but also for local artists to come into contact with artists from other parts of the world.

For Nepal-based artists international travel can be a difficult economic proposition — visa application processes are lengthy and not guaranteed of success.

Naljorma Tsül’dzin’s residency has been supported by a mobility fund from the Finnish Cultural Foundation.

During her time at Gallery Mcube she will share an open plan studio with two other artists and live in the gallery accommodation.

She will focus her own art as well as meeting local artists, writers and curators.

Tsül’dzin hopes to work with local coppersmiths.

This residency offers an open period of research, exploration and artistic development that will, possibly furnish the foundation for future Nepal based artistic projects.

There will be a small exhibition to conclude the month's activities. Additionally, Tsül’dzin has been asked to teach a performance art workshop for Kathmandu School of Arts. She will visit Bodhanath on Tsog’khorlo days and for other Vajrayana activities.

Tsül'dzin had previously met with Sangeetha Tharpa, the chairperson of the Kathmandu Triennale and founder of Kathmandu oldest commercial Siddhartha gallery.

Taragaon Next Museum also houses the centre for another residency initiative which focuses on environmental art and ecological themes, with opportunities to work in the Solukombu area.

Last year Tsül’dzin also visited the exhibition in the emerging cultural space Licchavi House and met with one of its programming committee members. Licchavi House was Founded by Dzongsar Khyentsé Rinpoche. Situated by the great Chörten, it is still a building site, as its projected opening is not yet realised. It promises to be a valuable addition to the cultural life of Nepal.

It is marvellous to see the efflorescence of Aro gTér sangha activities in the word — and to look forward to seeing what arises in the future from these many wonderful connections.