Tenzin Phuntsog’s Next Life
- Sat, May 16, 2026
- 11 am - 2 pm PT
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Free, RSVP required
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Nuart Theatre
11272 Santa Monica Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90025
Presented in conjunction with Realms of the Dharma: Buddhist Art Across Asia, Tenzin Phuntsog’s Next Life tells the story of a a Tibetan family in exile searches for moments of temporary happiness after their father is given an irrevocable diagnosis from a Tibetan doctor’s pulse reading. Through tender acts of care, quiet moments of intimacy, and memories of Tibet, the question of homeland surfaces: a place they cannot return to. Next Life moves through these moments gently, centering the Tibetan concept of Tse Chema—reincarnation—as a way of holding the cycle of life: birth, death, and rebirth and their karmic traces.
The program will begin with Phuntsog's new short work Auras. After Next Life, hear from Phuntsog in conversation with special guests and celebrate Tibetan Buddhist culture with offerings of Tibetan ceremonial practices from local Tibetan cultural practitioners.
Next Life
2026, 73 minutes
United States, Mexico
Tibetan, English, Mandarin
Shot on 35mm, DCP Projection
Auras
2026, 7 minutes
Tibet, India, United States, Mexico
Shot on 35mm, DCP Projection
Tenzin Phuntsog is a San Francisco–based artist and filmmaker. His work has been recently featured at the Berlinale Forum Expanded, IFFR Rotterdam, Edith Russ Haus, Redcat Los Angeles, EMAF, Seoul Media City Biennale, Experimenta, and the Tang Museum.
Realms of the Dharma: Buddhist Art Across Asia was organized by the Los Angeles County Museum of Art.
Generous support provided by the E. Rhodes and Leona B. Carpenter Foundation and Jennifer and Mark McCormick.
All exhibitions at LACMA are underwritten by the LACMA Exhibition Fund. Major annual support is provided by The David & Meredith Kaplan Foundation, the Blanchard Nesbitt Family, Louise and Brad Edgerton, Edgerton Foundation, Julie Jaffe, Stan and Ann Kroenke, Ezra and Lauren Perlman, The Michael Silver Family, and Marietta Wu and Thomas Yamamoto, with generous annual funding from Mary and Daniel James, Bert Levy Fund, Justin Lubliner, Alfred E. Mann Charities, and Kelsey Lee Offield.
All education and outreach programs organized by LACMA are underwritten by the LACMA Education Fund.
Major support is provided by
Generous additional support is provided by the Judy and Bernard Briskin Family Foundation, Capital Group, The Rosalinde and Arthur Gilbert Foundation, William Randolph Hearst Endowment Fund for Arts Education, Alfred E. Mann Charities, The Ralph M. Parsons Foundation, Gloria Ricci Lothrop, Flora L. Thornton Foundation, U.S. Bank, and The Yabuki Family Foundation.
Image from Next Life courtesy of artist Tenzin Phuntsog
Realms of the Dharma: Buddhist Art Across Asia was organized by the Los Angeles County Museum of Art.
Generous support provided by the E. Rhodes and Leona B. Carpenter Foundation and Jennifer and Mark McCormick.
All exhibitions at LACMA are underwritten by the LACMA Exhibition Fund. Major annual support is provided by The David & Meredith Kaplan Foundation, the Blanchard Nesbitt Family, Louise and Brad Edgerton, Edgerton Foundation, Julie Jaffe, Stan and Ann Kroenke, Ezra and Lauren Perlman, The Michael Silver Family, and Marietta Wu and Thomas Yamamoto, with generous annual funding from Mary and Daniel James, Bert Levy Fund, Justin Lubliner, Alfred E. Mann Charities, and Kelsey Lee Offield.
All education and outreach programs organized by LACMA are underwritten by the LACMA Education Fund.
Major support is provided by
Generous additional support is provided by the Judy and Bernard Briskin Family Foundation, Capital Group, The Rosalinde and Arthur Gilbert Foundation, William Randolph Hearst Endowment Fund for Arts Education, Alfred E. Mann Charities, The Ralph M. Parsons Foundation, Gloria Ricci Lothrop, Flora L. Thornton Foundation, U.S. Bank, and The Yabuki Family Foundation.
Image from Next Life courtesy of artist Tenzin Phuntsog