Since 2004 I have been working on a major book project, “Opening the Eye of the Buddha” with writer and designer Louise Light, documenting the tradition of Tibetan architectural painting illuminated through the life story of a Tibetan master.

Tinley Chojor was a seventh-generation lineage holder of “eri” the direct family lineage, subset of menri artistic style of Central Tibet. His family of Tibetan artisans first arrived in Lhasa in 1645 at the request of the great Fifth Dalai Lama to contribute to the building of The Potala. The scope of Tinley’s lifetime of work is formidable, spanning more than six decades across four countries, including sites in Tibet, Nepal, India and in the USA.

The final book will weave these two threads - the work and the life - together through photographs, anecdotal quotations and descriptive narrative. With the assistance of experts in the field, the book will explain the complex symbols, colour and imagery found in monastic painting; provide detail on artistic techniques and materials; and describe the religious, political and cultural context of this art form. During my time travelling through Tibet, India and Nepal, I came to appreciate the amazing talents of Tinley and the humility he showed in person albeit through a translator. I was deeply moved by his delight when he saw the photographs I took of work he did over 30 years ago and the sadness at not being able to revisit his family in Tibet.

Working on such an extensive project over several years has been both an enlightening experience and chance to delve into the visual arts of one of the world’s most extraordinary spiritual communities. This project has received seed funding from the Shelley and Donald Rubin Foundation in New York City, and from The Karma Kagyu Institute of Woodstock New York, which we are eternally grateful for. Publication is expected in the autumn of 2010, along with photography exhibitions at venues in the USA starting in New York City then later moving to London and the UK. I feel very privileged to be part of this amazing project and would like to share with you some of my favourite images from the book. If you would like any further information regarding this project and the upcoming publication please don’t hesitate to contact me, info@clairepullinger.com.