The “Wheel of Life” is perhaps the most iconic teaching tool in Buddhist philosophy. This Thangka depicts the monster Yama holding the wheel, which illustrates the six realms of existence—from the heavenly abodes to the hell realms—reminding us that our current state is a result of our past actions. It is a profound piece for reflection, designed to inspire the viewer to break free from worldly attachments.

• About the Painting & Process: The creation of this Thangka began with a canvas prepared from hand-woven cotton, smoothed with a paste of bone glue and white clay. The artist then used exact geometric grids to ensure every realm was perfectly proportioned according to ancient tradition. Unlike modern prints, this painting was created over several weeks using fine-tipped brushes made from animal hair to capture the hundreds of tiny figures within the wheel.

• Colours & Materials: This piece features deep cinnabar reds to represent the fire of existence and earthy mineral oranges for the human realm. Real gold dust was mixed with a binding agent to highlight the central Buddha and the outer rim, ensuring the artwork glows under soft light.