| "PILGRIM": an exhibition of Richard Gere's photo works |
 |  |  |  |
| Boy Mongolia |
In the 80ies Richard Gere, a Hollywood star with the train of brilliant roles and a world
fame, twice climbed on the high Himalaya plateau: first he went to Ladakh, then even
farther to the rocky slopes of Zanscar. There he found the world of ancient monasteries,
prayer flags and people, striking the imagination with their openness and depth.
In the 80ies he was introduced to His Holiness the Dalai Lama, a spiritual leader of
Tibetan Buddhists, and this meeting has utterly changed his life. It was like “love from the
first sight. I suddenly felt confidence and peace… It’s a rare chance to meet a person
who wishes only one thing – you to be happy. He knows there’s a way, and if you follow it
with courage and determination, you gain happiness at the end. You can spend millions
of lives to attain it, but this will certainly happen”. Gere began to study Buddhism,
meeting the Dalai Lama five-seven times a year during the teachings in Europe, America
and in India at a Tibetan community in exile.
For a long time Gere didn’t want to announce he is a Buddhist. His spiritual life was his
personal business and his enthusiasm for Tibetan Buddhism was not at all a tribute to
fashion. But while percepting the key principles of this ancient preserved civilization, the
principles of love,compassion and nonviolence, while understanding its everlasting
value for the whole egocentric mankind, he decided to do his best to save Tibetan
culture from inevitable destruction.
compassion and nonviolence, while understanding its everlasting value for the whole
egocentric mankind, he decided to do his best to save Tibetan culture from inevitable
destruction.
In fact Gere got acquainted with Tibet during “the most difficult and dark period in its
history”. The Chinese intrusion, destroyed monasteries, shoot lamas, libraries burnt to
ashes, the sharp piercing pain hidden deep in the heart of each Tibetan… He observed
all these painful images and at the same time he admired great wisdom and compassion
of Tibetan teachers, from whom he learned a lot.
On the ceremony of Oskar presentation in 1993 deviating from his official speech,
Richard Gere suggested a milliard auditorium sending mentally some love, truth and
common sense to the Chinese leader Den Xiaoping , hoping “he’ll call of the troops from
Tibet and let the Tibetans become free and independent people”.
Soon after this statement Gere had an unexpected call from Chinese Cinematographers
Association with the invitation to visit the Film Festival in China. Richard accepts the
invitation, but lays down two conditions: within the limits of his visit he goes to Tibet and
his Tibetan teacher Kyongla Rato Rinpoche, who left his home place in 1959, goes with
him.
The photographs he managed to make during that single journey to Tibet became the
base of his exhibition “Pilgrim”, which is the reflection of his deep empathy to Tibetans
who stayed at their homeland in exile. This exhibition also includes the photographs he
made in Tibetan settlements and during Kalachakra empowerment given by the Dalai
Lama, “when people from all Himalaya region gathered together in Zanskar, pitching the
tents around. “ “I feel as a pilgrim, - says Richard Gere. – I identify myself with that dark
figure on the photo which I call “Pilgrim”. He’s standing there alone, in a ruined village,
and it’s impossible to say, whether he has just come, or he is going to leave… Pilgrimage
is first of all visiting of sacred places, but it is also just a movement. It is a search, even if
you yourself don’t know what you are looking for. We all are pilgrims in this lifetime and in
our future lives…”
When talking about Tibet one involuntary imagines colorful picture – red monk’s robes,
women wearing red coral and greenish turquoise ornaments enormous blue sky… Black
and white photographs of Richard Gere have nothing to do with these images. There
were other things that stroked the pilgrim, who stepped on the sacred land. “I didn’t want
to make photos of happy Tibetans on the fields, because this is not true. I could have
taken a “Kodak” with me, clicked some pictures and tell everybody a history of a wild and
beautiful Tibet in a tourist manner. But the reality I faced there is paranoia and
depression. Almost all the photographs I made in Tibet are of gloomy nooks, where
people are hiding. I felt an enormous responsibility for telling the truth”.
Today Gere considers each new role in the movie with several million budget as “a
possibility to serve”. , The Gere Foundation, established by him, to which the actor also
gives the money he gained from selling his photographs and books, supports His
Holiness the Dalai Lama and the Tibetan community in exile.
Julia Jironkina
Richard Gere, for most of us, is the immensely popular star of ‘Pretty Woman’ – and many
more movies. Little do his fans and others know that behind the seductive screen
appearance is a sensitive soul, a politically aware, and a passionate human being who
spends his time on social causes. A Buddhist, and a vegetarian, he has supported,
among his various causes, the right of Tibetan exiles to their homeland, now under
Chinese occupation. Gere considers His Holiness The Dalai Lama his teacher and friend,
who graciously wrote the foreword to Gere’s book of photographs, which is aptly titled
‘Pilgrim’. The black and white pictures capture the tragedy, resilience, philosophy,
character and spirit of Tibetans. Gere travelled extensively in India, Tibet and Nepal to
photograph his subjects, and writes in his introduction to the book that these are
"photographs of my feelings for and about Tibetans…. for all they’ve given me, which I
will never be able to repay".
He also adds, "In the Buddhist view, the greatest ignorance is believing the world exists
in the way it appears to exist. From that follows the concept of I and mine. All other evils
follow from that. According to Buddhist thought, things do exist … but in a relative way,
not in an absolute way. We exist inter-dependently. We are empty of inherent existence.
The closer you look , the more you enlarge, blow up, the further away the object
becomes, receding …. May all beings, and especially our brothers and sisters in Tibet, be
continuously held in the protective embrace of the Virtuous Ones, and may they quickly
achieve happiness and the causes of future happiness."
Established by Richard Gere, the Gere Foundation provides philanthropic assistance to
the causes and groups worldwide whose work represents the humanitarian goals that he
has long supported - victims of war and natural disasters, HIV/AIDS, and addressing
human rights violations occurring around the world. The primary mission of the Gere
Foundation, however, remains to support the Tibetan community in India through health,
technological and educational projects.
In India, the Foundation has also established the Naz Foundation that provides long-term
care facilities for women and children infected with the AIDS virus. On September 21,
2003 Richard Gere brought together a group of world musicians, including Anoushka
Shankar, for a concert in New York. The concert was called ‘Healing the Divide: A Concert
for Peace and Reconciliation.’ Healing the Divide is a new nonprofit organization
established to improve the lives of people in impoverished communities throughout the
Himalayan region. "Healing the Divide is bringing urgently needed resources to
communities whose ancient wisdom traditions uphold the values of non-violence and
compassion but who are struggling to survive in the 21st century."
fame, twice climbed on the high Himalaya plateau: first he went to Ladakh, then even
farther to the rocky slopes of Zanscar. There he found the world of ancient monasteries,
prayer flags and people, striking the imagination with their openness and depth.
In the 80ies he was introduced to His Holiness the Dalai Lama, a spiritual leader of
Tibetan Buddhists, and this meeting has utterly changed his life. It was like “love from the
first sight. I suddenly felt confidence and peace… It’s a rare chance to meet a person
who wishes only one thing – you to be happy. He knows there’s a way, and if you follow it
with courage and determination, you gain happiness at the end. You can spend millions
of lives to attain it, but this will certainly happen”. Gere began to study Buddhism,
meeting the Dalai Lama five-seven times a year during the teachings in Europe, America
and in India at a Tibetan community in exile.
For a long time Gere didn’t want to announce he is a Buddhist. His spiritual life was his
personal business and his enthusiasm for Tibetan Buddhism was not at all a tribute to
fashion. But while percepting the key principles of this ancient preserved civilization, the
principles of love,compassion and nonviolence, while understanding its everlasting
value for the whole egocentric mankind, he decided to do his best to save Tibetan
culture from inevitable destruction.
compassion and nonviolence, while understanding its everlasting value for the whole
egocentric mankind, he decided to do his best to save Tibetan culture from inevitable
destruction.
In fact Gere got acquainted with Tibet during “the most difficult and dark period in its
history”. The Chinese intrusion, destroyed monasteries, shoot lamas, libraries burnt to
ashes, the sharp piercing pain hidden deep in the heart of each Tibetan… He observed
all these painful images and at the same time he admired great wisdom and compassion
of Tibetan teachers, from whom he learned a lot.
On the ceremony of Oskar presentation in 1993 deviating from his official speech,
Richard Gere suggested a milliard auditorium sending mentally some love, truth and
common sense to the Chinese leader Den Xiaoping , hoping “he’ll call of the troops from
Tibet and let the Tibetans become free and independent people”.
Soon after this statement Gere had an unexpected call from Chinese Cinematographers
Association with the invitation to visit the Film Festival in China. Richard accepts the
invitation, but lays down two conditions: within the limits of his visit he goes to Tibet and
his Tibetan teacher Kyongla Rato Rinpoche, who left his home place in 1959, goes with
him.
The photographs he managed to make during that single journey to Tibet became the
base of his exhibition “Pilgrim”, which is the reflection of his deep empathy to Tibetans
who stayed at their homeland in exile. This exhibition also includes the photographs he
made in Tibetan settlements and during Kalachakra empowerment given by the Dalai
Lama, “when people from all Himalaya region gathered together in Zanskar, pitching the
tents around. “ “I feel as a pilgrim, - says Richard Gere. – I identify myself with that dark
figure on the photo which I call “Pilgrim”. He’s standing there alone, in a ruined village,
and it’s impossible to say, whether he has just come, or he is going to leave… Pilgrimage
is first of all visiting of sacred places, but it is also just a movement. It is a search, even if
you yourself don’t know what you are looking for. We all are pilgrims in this lifetime and in
our future lives…”
When talking about Tibet one involuntary imagines colorful picture – red monk’s robes,
women wearing red coral and greenish turquoise ornaments enormous blue sky… Black
and white photographs of Richard Gere have nothing to do with these images. There
were other things that stroked the pilgrim, who stepped on the sacred land. “I didn’t want
to make photos of happy Tibetans on the fields, because this is not true. I could have
taken a “Kodak” with me, clicked some pictures and tell everybody a history of a wild and
beautiful Tibet in a tourist manner. But the reality I faced there is paranoia and
depression. Almost all the photographs I made in Tibet are of gloomy nooks, where
people are hiding. I felt an enormous responsibility for telling the truth”.
Today Gere considers each new role in the movie with several million budget as “a
possibility to serve”. , The Gere Foundation, established by him, to which the actor also
gives the money he gained from selling his photographs and books, supports His
Holiness the Dalai Lama and the Tibetan community in exile.
Julia Jironkina
Richard Gere, for most of us, is the immensely popular star of ‘Pretty Woman’ – and many
more movies. Little do his fans and others know that behind the seductive screen
appearance is a sensitive soul, a politically aware, and a passionate human being who
spends his time on social causes. A Buddhist, and a vegetarian, he has supported,
among his various causes, the right of Tibetan exiles to their homeland, now under
Chinese occupation. Gere considers His Holiness The Dalai Lama his teacher and friend,
who graciously wrote the foreword to Gere’s book of photographs, which is aptly titled
‘Pilgrim’. The black and white pictures capture the tragedy, resilience, philosophy,
character and spirit of Tibetans. Gere travelled extensively in India, Tibet and Nepal to
photograph his subjects, and writes in his introduction to the book that these are
"photographs of my feelings for and about Tibetans…. for all they’ve given me, which I
will never be able to repay".
He also adds, "In the Buddhist view, the greatest ignorance is believing the world exists
in the way it appears to exist. From that follows the concept of I and mine. All other evils
follow from that. According to Buddhist thought, things do exist … but in a relative way,
not in an absolute way. We exist inter-dependently. We are empty of inherent existence.
The closer you look , the more you enlarge, blow up, the further away the object
becomes, receding …. May all beings, and especially our brothers and sisters in Tibet, be
continuously held in the protective embrace of the Virtuous Ones, and may they quickly
achieve happiness and the causes of future happiness."
Established by Richard Gere, the Gere Foundation provides philanthropic assistance to
the causes and groups worldwide whose work represents the humanitarian goals that he
has long supported - victims of war and natural disasters, HIV/AIDS, and addressing
human rights violations occurring around the world. The primary mission of the Gere
Foundation, however, remains to support the Tibetan community in India through health,
technological and educational projects.
In India, the Foundation has also established the Naz Foundation that provides long-term
care facilities for women and children infected with the AIDS virus. On September 21,
2003 Richard Gere brought together a group of world musicians, including Anoushka
Shankar, for a concert in New York. The concert was called ‘Healing the Divide: A Concert
for Peace and Reconciliation.’ Healing the Divide is a new nonprofit organization
established to improve the lives of people in impoverished communities throughout the
Himalayan region. "Healing the Divide is bringing urgently needed resources to
communities whose ancient wisdom traditions uphold the values of non-violence and
compassion but who are struggling to survive in the 21st century."
| Mongolian Warrior |
Monks at Shekar Monastery
| Naljorpa |
| Pilgrim |
| Storm |
| Piercing the Veil |
More info on "Pilgrim" by Richard Gere
| AUCTION OF PHOTOS TAKEN BY Richard GERE June 23, 1996 |
