The formal opening of Building Bridges, an Art Exhibition by Tomoyo Lhaya, a Japanese visual artist, held on 8th August, began at around 5:30 pm at LAMO Center, below Namgyal Palace, Old Town Leh. Many interested locals, foreigners and domestic tourists observed her work of art.
 
The inauguration was followed by gathering of the spectators in LAMO’s court yard, where Tomoyo briefed about her drawings and installations. While viewers were in conversation with Tomoya and her work, tea and snacks were served.

Tomoya Lhaya is a Japanese visual artist based in Vancouver, British Columbia. She is an instructor at Emily Carr University of Art and Design and has exhibited extensively around Canada, United States and India.

When asked what the purpose behind her exhibit is and what inspire her to make her piece of art, she said; “In my exhibit, Building Bridges, I would like to exhibit drawings inspired by my past eight years of travelling for artistic research in the Ladakh.  One of the main themes of the research was focused on doing daily chores and rituals around water.  By witnessing how people live with water, such as water fetching and rituals using water.  By witnessing how people live with water, an essential of life, I wanted to express how people live and what life is all about.  During my trips I’ve encountered numerous rivers in the fields and mountains and crossed numerous bridges.  In the remote area, as bridges were the only means to reach the community on the other side of a wide river.  Whenever I crossed a bridge (metal, wooden, concrete, worn or new), both the bridge and the crossing came to hold symbol meaning for me.  A bridge connects, and crossing the bridge suggest crossing to the other side of life”.

She also wrote in her brief summary of the exhibition that: I have thought for many years how art can help to create peace in trouble world of ours. LAMO, which is located in the old town of Leh, Ladakh and aims to spread contemporary art through community-based projects and to enrich local culture to it, seemed to be the suitable location to community collaboration project. Ladakh is the place where I have been coming over dozen times in nine years and I have learned way of life and spiritual values from its people in the extraordinary natural environment.  Therefore, in addition to my drawings and installations, I decided to ask like-minded friends near and far to contribute crocheted and knitted strings that embody wishes of peace and love to assemble a symbolic bridge.  This is an on-going project and anybody can sit and knit a string to add to the bridge.  Already two bridges have been constructive with the contributions of more than 50 people.  I hope the bridges and my work resonate with this ancient and beautiful space at LAMO.