Mongol Zurag

Portrait of Bogd-Gegan VIII , artist Baldugyin Sharav (fragment)

Mongol Zurag ( Mong. Mongol Zurag , Mongolian painting) is a painting style in Mongolian art. Designed at the beginning of the 20th century. The works of zurag are performed in gouache on the canvas, which resembles a Tibetan tank, in addition, adhesive and mineral paints are used. This painting combines Buddhist fine art and socialist realism, which were favorably treated in the Mongolian People's Republic.

For the first time, works in this style appeared after the 1921 revolution , with artists such as Baldugyin Sharav , whose painting “One Day in Mongolia” ^[1] remains one of the most famous works of Mongolian art. Zurag paintings, thanks to scenes from everyday life, for example, on a collective farm or on nomadic pastures, became popular in the 1950s and 1960s on the wave of success of the film “The Old Violinist” by Urgingin Yadamsuren . Since the beginning of democratic reforms in 1992, there has been a surge in interest in this style. Modern zurag paintings are dedicated to nationalistic scenes from the Secret Tales of the Mongols and the life of Genghis Khan, as well as religious images inspired by pre-Buddhist shamanism. They became more symbolic, and less strict in design.

Throughout its history, zurag encompasses a wide range of visual styles. The Buddhist tradition is used along with the European styles of realism and geometric perspective, thereby enriching the theme, content and art form of painting. And in this regard, a series of portraits of Mongolian scientists were painted, the paintings “Folk Storyteller” by U. Yadamsuren, “The Black Camel” by A. Sengetsokhio, “Maternal Glory” by D. Damdinsuren, works by C. Davaahuu, C. Minzhur, B. Avarzed , C. Jamsran, B. Gombosuren and others. In these paintings, a fabulously poetic, generalized image of modern Mongolia is created. One of the most interesting and important Mongolian artists today is Ershu Otgonbayar , the film “Zurag” by Tobias Wulf ^[2] was dedicated to his work.