In this series, Karma has painted each of the six realms of the Wheel of Life as a face made of elements: clouds, water, fire, wood, roots. The portrait in the God Realm is swirling with cool blue mist, while the Demigod is nearly consumed by flames. In the Human Realm, the face is split down its centre: waves crash on one side, fire rages on the other. Neither of the elements are winning. 

The lower three realms are set against bark and root, contrasting against the upper realms that float inside dense, blooming ornament. The animal realm depicts a creature of empty endurance. Beside it, the Hungry Ghost, painted as a molten gold face, cannot contain itself- it drips past its own edges. The Hell Realm ends the series as a doubled face, blue and red anguish totally consuming the figure. This series synthesises the Thangka tradition's symbolic, elemental language with a surrealist depiction of metamorphosis. 

Acrylic on canvas, 30 x 24 inches, six panels.