Baatarzorig Batjargal’s Contemporary Mongol Zurag Paintings

Using the Mongol zurag style of painting, Baatarzorig Batjargal brings a contemporary and globe-spanning mentality into the century-old approach. A native of Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia, the artist’s distinctive observance of tradition puts a fascinating spotlight on how his home has changed.

“During a time of unprecedented urbanization, the artist addresses the contradictions of his own environment and its transformation from past to present,” a statement says. “Panning through the repressions of Soviet style communism to the inequalities and consumerism of global capitalism, Batjargal offers narratives concerned with the loss of traditional heritage. In a rich tapestry of various regimes, the portraits in his recent series include gods, holy men, artists, intellectuals, warriors, noblemen, politicians and oligarchs.”

The artist is a graduate of the School of Fine Arts of the University of Arts and Culture of Mongolia. See more of Batjargal’s work below.