November 9th, 2004
					Contemporary Tibetan Calligraphy Brings Eastern Promise to Hoxton London's Hoxton district plays host to a major, new exhibition of spiritual Art, by English-born artist and calligrapher Tashi Mannox . Abundance: Journeys in Sanskrit & Tibetan Calligraphic Art will show at The True Studio, 194 Pitfield St, N1, Shoreditch from Tuesday 25 th November to Saturday 27 th November. The artist, a fomer Tibetan Buddhist monk, will exhibit 23 paintings which represent spiritual themes through the striking images of Tibetan Buddhist calligraphy. Tashi Mannox studied under masters of ancient Sanskrit and Tibetan art before laying down his monastic robes in 2000, to re-enter the Western world. Following successful exhibitions in London and New York, he was invited to create embroidery and prints, featuring his distinctive calligraphy, for the ultra-trendy Maharishi fashion label and was commissioned by the Design Museum to illustrate its exhibition "When Philip Met Isabella: Philip Treacy's Hats for Isabella Blow". The artist says "My work is designed for a broad audience, whose interests may not necessarily lie in the contemporary art world or any religious belief, but who appreciate the skills and technical dedication used to create the paintings. Some will find the work attractive on a purely aesthetic level, while others will find their own stories in the strokes and symbols which lie at the core of each painting."   Highlights of the Abundance retrospective include " The Four Contemplations ", a series of ceiling-to-floor, meditation banners depicting human existence, impermanence, karma and attachment;   " Pure Lotus, Foul Mud ", a triptych on the legendary strain of Lotus flower which grows from mud; one painting from the artist's revolutionary SOULHOUETTE (TM)   project, featuring a life-size portraits of the 'soul' of the artist's mother and leading celebrities from the worlds of music, film and fashion.