Mongol Zurag: Art of Resistance w/ Orna Tsultem
Listeners, we are excited to share a very special interview with Orna Tsultem, curator and art historian of Mongolian art, where we dive into the origins of Mongol Zurag, the art of resistance!
Check out our interview here:
In this episode, we discuss the origins of Mongol Zurag which began as benign secular painting, was a significant change from the traditional Buddhist thangka paintings.
After Mongolia became a Soviet satellite state in the 1920s, Mongol Zurag, slowly but surely, became the voice of resistance of Mongolian artists looking to rediscover their cultural heritage.
The Mongol Zurag style continues today and the Mongolian artists’ message is one most of us can relate to in the year 2025 living under neo-liberalism and capital greed.
You can learn more about Mongolian Art here:
MUSIC:
Yesterday Album - Lofi And Chill Artist - HoliznaCC0 https://holiznacc0.bandcamp.com/album...
01 Album - 2013
Toyota Corolla Artist - 2003 Toyota Corolla https://hanahata.bandcamp.com/album/2...
An example of a Mongolian Buddhist thangka, c. 19th century
A Tibetan Buddhist thangka featuring the god of desire and love, Yama. c. 19th century.
The eccentric Bogd Khanate of Mongolia (from 1911-1924) or “BG” as referenced in the ‘sode.
B. Sharav, “A Day in Mongolia" c. 1920. Mineral pigments on cloth.
Boris Vladimir, (Detail) “Roses for Stalin”, an example of Socialist Realism.
N. Tsultem, “Ger in Steppe” 1955. Oil on canvas.
G. Sosai, “Mother” 1967. Oil on cardboard.
N. Tsultem, “Appeal”, 1972. Oil on canvas.
N. Tsultem, “Ensemble of Clouds”, 1977. Oil on canvas.
@artslicepod Full ep on #mongolzurag the art of resistance on y t #mongolia #contemporaryart #arthistorytiktok ♬ original sound - ArtSlice Palatable Art History
Baasanjav Choijiljav, “Enlightenment” 2008. Gouache on cotton.
Baatarzorig Batjargal, “Heros” 2017.
Baasanjav Choijiljav , “The Taste of Money In-Between Clouds” 2009. Gouache on cotton
Baasanjav Choijiljav, “During Session” 2011.
Baasanjav Choijiljav , “Rhythms of Time” 2023.
Nomin Bold, “Tomorrow”, 2014.
We dive into the tumultuous and extremely overlooked history of Mongolian Art and how Mongol Zurag emerged to fight repression first from Soviet censorship and now from Neoliberalism. Dr. Orna Tsultem speaks about her father - N. Tsultem's work in the Mongolia Peoples Republic - and how contemporary artists like Nomin Bold, Baatarzorig Batjargal and Baasanjav Choijiljav challenge democratic corruption today.
