Kickstarter

Hello my name is Arotin Hartounian and Im a 20 year old artist from Los Angeles,California

One day I was at the looking at pictures of Buddhist life. I came upon a picture of the Dalai Lama and I had the idea to draw him happy as he always is spinning music as a DJ. At first it was just a funny picture in my head so I went ahead and drew the idea in my sketchbook. This is the drawing I came up with. This drawing will be DJ Dalai Lama #2.

As time went on I began to think about why I had chosen to depict the Dalai Lama as a DJ and what significance does that have? I started to research Buddhist art especially Thangka painting which is a rich art form in which the Buddhist practitioner meditates upon the images on his path to enlightenment. Over the course of a year I did a lot of research, did several sketches, and continued to paint the largest and grandest piece of art I have ever done. 

DJ Dalai Lama explores the theme of idolization and music and art as forms of spiritual expression. There is something very spiritual about the act of thousands of people gathering to hear and see one person speak. In the same way thousands of people gather to hear the pope or the Dalai Lama speak, in today’s society people line up in the thousand to hear musicians, actors, artists, preach through their music and art.  By placing such an iconic Eastern figure as a DJ I have taken the traditional Eastern art form of Thangka painting and made it Western and contemporary. This painting depicts all the demons on earth and the monks in the heavens dancing and partying it up as if they were in a concert. Here is the completed DJ Dalai Lama #1, 30"X42" acrylic on wood panel.

With your help I can continue the DJ Dalai Lama series and paint DJ Dalai Lama #2,3,4, and 5 and make my debut into the art world as a serious and dedicated artist. Ofcourse your help and support will not go unnoticed. backers for my project will be showered with awesome gifts.

The Gifts 

$1- A warm and sincere thank you on my blog                                               

$5- All of the Above + a DJ Dalai Lama #1 postcard with a personal thank you on the back.                                                                                               

$10- All of the above + your name painted and immortalized on the back of one of the upcoming DJ Dalai Lama paintings.                                                     

$25- All of the Above + Be included as a Buddhist demon or monk in one of the upcoming DJ Dalai Lama paintings. You will provide a picture of your self to me and I will transform you into your choice of demon or monk. Ill take a picture of your character and send it to you upon completion of the painting. Examples in the picture below:     

$50- All of the Above + a limited edition signed 4"X5" hand painted DJ Dalai Lama card. Example below.

$100- All of the Above + an original page from my sketches used in developing the DJ Dalai Lama series. Your choice of sketch on a first come first pick basis.Example below:

$250- All of the Above + 15"X21" limited edition signed high quality Giclee print of DJ Dalai Lama #1.