Historical and contemporary paintings by four prominent artists of the Mongolian Zurag (“Mongolian painting”) tradition – Nyam-Osoryn Tsultem (1924-2001), Baasanjav Choijiljav, Baatarzorig Batjargal, and Urjinkhand Onon – affirm the legacy of creativity as a means of resistance. Born during the Cold War era, the Mongolian Zurag tradition emerged amid debates on national identity and the preservation of cultural heritage, stimulated by the socialist government’s elimination of Buddhist culture in favor of Socialist Realism. Going beyond reflections on national boundaries, the four artists today engage with pressing global issues.
