Pin drop silence: Eleven-headed AvalokiteshvaraTenzing Rigdol · 2013

  • Creation date2013
  • Dimensions233.0 x 125.0 cm

Tenzing Rigdol (1982 –)

Tenzing Rigdol is a Tibetan-American contemporary artist renowned for blending thangka art with modern expression. His thought-provoking installations explore cultural identity, displacement & dialogue, exhibited globally including the Metropolitan M

Tenzing Rigdol’s figure of Avalokiteshvara stands in a radiant mandorla, burning with the light of his enlightenment or nonexistence, while his eleven heads comment on realms of knowledge and simultaneous realization. His primary hands are held in anjali mudra, the gesture of veneration, and thus the figure makes direct reference to Shadakshari Lokeshvara and, by extension, to the Dalai Lama, who is understood to be an incarnation of Avalokiteshvara. Surrounding the central figure is a background that is structured or perhaps fractured by a grid that refers to both tangka underdrawings and to the design structure of Tibetan carpets. The similarity to carpet design is also evident in the use of graphic, flat color. Texts associated with the veneration of this deity pervade the composition. Because the deity’s face has been omitted, the viewer is denied any direct or charged devotional contact with this divine being, as eye contact is seen as the primary means of accessing the divine. By omitting the eyes, Tenzing Rigdol has effectively taken the image out of a devotional context and forces the viewer to consider it as an independent work of art—the creation of an individual.

About this artwork

  • Title: Pin drop silence: Eleven-headed Avalokiteshvara
  • Artist: Tenzing Rigdol
  • Year: 2013
  • Original dimensions: 233.0 x 125.0 cm
  • Format: Tall
  • Copyright status: Under copyright
  • Main color: Clay
  • Color hue: Ochre to Sepia

Questions & Answers

Which palette and lead color define "Pin drop silence: Eleven-headed Avalokiteshvara"?

"Pin drop silence: Eleven-headed Avalokiteshvara" by Tenzing Rigdol uses a neutrals palette, with clay (#a96144) as the dominant color.

Who created "Pin drop silence: Eleven-headed Avalokiteshvara"?

"Pin drop silence: Eleven-headed Avalokiteshvara" was created by Tenzing Rigdol. The information on this page describes Tenzing Rigdol's original work.

What saturation and intensity does "Pin drop silence: Eleven-headed Avalokiteshvara" by Tenzing Rigdol show?

The color of "Pin drop silence: Eleven-headed Avalokiteshvara" is subtle color in saturation and balanced in intensity.

What is the creation date of "Pin drop silence: Eleven-headed Avalokiteshvara" by Tenzing Rigdol?

"Pin drop silence: Eleven-headed Avalokiteshvara" dates from 2013. The date places the work within Tenzing Rigdol's career and its era.

How do the colors of "Pin drop silence: Eleven-headed Avalokiteshvara" relate to each other?

The colors of "Pin drop silence: Eleven-headed Avalokiteshvara" by Tenzing Rigdol show a discordant palette harmony. Harmony describes how the colors relate to each other.

What was Tenzing Rigdol's age when "Pin drop silence: Eleven-headed Avalokiteshvara" was created?

Tenzing Rigdol made "Pin drop silence: Eleven-headed Avalokiteshvara" at the age of 31. The artist was born in 1982 and the work is dated 2013.

What are the dimensions of the original "Pin drop silence: Eleven-headed Avalokiteshvara" by Tenzing Rigdol?

The original "Pin drop silence: Eleven-headed Avalokiteshvara" by Tenzing Rigdol measures 233 x 125 cm.

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