MODERN PAINTINGS OF MONGOLIA -Its Origin up to Today-

The unknown footsteps of Mongolian modern art is unveiled with around 100 works ranging from Buddhism painting in the 19th century, Social Realism paintings to contemporary paintings made after the democratization in 1990s.

The people in Mongolia — who lived nomadic life in the vast steppe — once established a far flung empire in the 13th century.  After its collapse, Mongolia went under Qing Dynasty in the 19th century before it was affected by the former Soviet Union.  Currently, after experiencing the democratization in 1992, the nation is stepping forward a new path.  This exhibition explores the modernization in Mongolia with an art historic viewpoint, and seeks for the originality of Mongolian art, in relation to the issue with the Asian universal issue of modern art.

Mongolian art developed having close relationship with Tibetan Buddhism art.  The birth of modern paintings in Mongolia dates back to the early 20th century — the time of Sharav, the painter introduced innovative expressions.  In the 1940s, N. Tultem and G. Odon — painters studied art in Soviet Union — produced paintings strongly influenced by Socialist Realism and Russian Impressionism.  On the other hand, new tendency was brought to traditional Mongolian paintings with Western techniques.  The painters, under the Socialist regime and the limitations in expression, were supported by the state in creating their works.  This is why many of the supreme works of modern art remain inside Mongolia.  In the 1990s, backed by the democratization movements, the painters became able to paint what they considered taboo before.  These works reflect the Mongolian original view of the world and view of nature.

There had been no Mongolian modern art exhibition with historical and comprehensive viewpoint in Japan or even in any other part of the world.  This exhibition consists of around 100 works loaned from the National Modern Art Gallery, Zanabazar Museum of Fine Art, The Union of Mongolian Artists, and the Fukuoka Asian Art Museum.