Dark Red Forest - JIÀNGHÓNG SĒNLÍN

Pitch

Around 20,000 Buddhist nuns reside at Yarchen Monastery, located in the highlands of Tibet. During the colder months, many of them choose to retreat to small wooden cabins. In this landscape battered by snowstorms, they isolate themselves to dedicate themselves to meditation and introspection. Their retreat is marked by an inner confrontation with the great questions of spirituality: the meaning of life, the law of karma, the uncertainties surrounding their actions, the inevitability of death, the belief in reincarnation, and many other existential questions. According to Tibetan tradition, entry into the monastery takes place at a young age, and the spiritual quest continues uninterrupted until the end of life. “In my mind, this is a group of spiritually rich and happy people.” I saw in them the simplest human virtues: altruistic, kind, and warm. If there are perfect beings in this world, they must be among them. I feel truly fortunate to have spent part of my life among them. Over the past six years, I have tried to capture an incredibly beautiful world, and I hope the viewer will be able to experience it. – Jin Huaqing