2016 Grant Park / Urban Buddha

Urban Buddha – by Tashi Norbu
Urban Buddha: Be the Flower, Not the Bee.

Location: Grand Park Skate Park
at the corner of Michigan Avenue and Roosevelt Road, Chicago.

Reclaimed/ Repurposed Painted Lumber / 10′ x 12′ x 14′

Courtesy of the Grant Park Conservancy/ Advisory Council; the Artist;
North Branch Management, Chicago; ReUse Depot, Maywood.

Collaboration among the Chicago Park District,
the City of Chicago Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events,
and the Grant Park Conservancy/Advisory Council.

Urban Buddha – by Tashi Norbu

The reclaimed wood used to create this sculpture sends a message to viewers about harmful enviornmental issues such as deforestation, palm oil production, and global warming happening in artist home country in Tibet and around the world. The artwork was created collaboratively by local and international artists, symbolizing nations coming together to work for a better future.

“There is no better teacher than nature itself. We can learn everything from nature and its creation.”
– Tashi Norbu.

The artist website has information on some form of rewards for donation for the maintenance and conservation of the Sculpture. For more, click here..

Urban Buddha – by Tashi Norbu

Urban Buddha – by Tashi Norbu / The sculpture is surrounded by a circle of rocks guests can use for seats.

The sculpture is surrounded by a circle of rocks guests can use for seats.

Urban Buddha – by Tashi Norbu / The sculpture is surrounded by a circle of rocks guests can use for seats.

Urban Buddha – by Tashi Norbu / The sculpture is inscribed with Buddhist mantras.

The sculpture is inscribed with Buddhist mantras translated to mean “be the bee, not the flower,” and other things.

Urban Buddha – by Tashi Norbu / The sculpture is inscribed with Buddhist mantras.

Urban Buddha – by Tashi Norbu

About the artist Tashi Norbu, from his website.. click here..
Tashi Norbu (1974) is a Tibetan contemporary artist, born in Bhutan. He has been educated and graduated (1999) as a traditional Tibetan Thangka painter in Dharamsala, India. In 2000 he went to Belgium to study visual arts at the Saint Lucas Art Academy in Ghent. During those four years of academy, he also worked part-time at the Municipal Museum of Contemporary Art (SMAK) in Ghent. This enabled him to be close to the contemporary art he admires, and sometimes even to hold it in his hands. Since 2007 he lives and works in Holland as contemporary artist. Since 2010 he has his own art studio “9 Pillars” in Wormer, a village close to Amsterdam.