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Artist Profile
 
  Gankhuyag Natsag
Artist Gankhuyag Natsag

Gankhuyag was born in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia. Early in his childhood, his parents, who are famous masters of handcrafts in the traditional Mongolian style, have introduced him to fine art of traditional handcrafting, and many great artists have instructed him since then. After finishing secondary school, he started working at the Union of Mongolian artists earning acclaim as a painter and papier-maché artist creating objects for traditional Performing Art troupes in Mongolia. While working at the Union he participated in many international festivals and exhibitions, and got his first international recognition by winning First Prize at the XII World Festival of Youth and Students in Moscow in 1985.

During the years of 1989, 1991 and 1995, he worked for the groups Tumen Ekh and Temujin Munkh as well as for the National Folk, Song and Dance Ensemble of Mongolia. He made the "tsam" dance masks and costume in relation with the production of Tsam masks made from paper-mâché and the choreography of dance rituals (Khuree Tsam). Gankhuyag Natsag has been taught a lot by the venerable Lama Sereeter, Lama Dashzeveg and Lama Danzan. He also played in various mystery plays and cult dances.

Work

2005-Present  Mask and Art instructor, ADTI, Washington DC, USA
Since 2006     Vice president of “Mongol Europe” Institute, France
Since 2006     Co-founder of “The Great Story of Mongols” performing group, USA
Since 2001     President of Mongolian “Goo-Ertunts” Society, Mongolia
Since 1997     Director, ”Khan Bogd “ Ensemble, Mongolia
Since 1992     Director, “Bi-Bid” Art studio and Co.,Ltd, Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia
1979               Art assistant, Union of Mongolian Artists, Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia

Creation work

1988-90 Produced 15 Tsam masks for the Tumen Ekh ensemble
1990    5 masks for the Temujin Munkh ensemble
1993-94 Created 5-meter tall Buddha for Gunzeshoinei Temple in St. Petersburg
1995   5 masks for the Mongolian State Folk Song and Dance Ensemble
1997   3 Tsam masks, with full clothing, for the Musée d'Ethnographie, Geneva
1998   15 masks for the Ravdan Choilon Temple in Vevey, Switzerland
1999   2 tsam masks for the Völkerkundemuseum in Zurich, Switzerland
            10 masks for the Lama Gangchen World Peace Foundation of Milan, Italy
            6 masks for the Gandan Monastery in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia
            20 masks for the International Passages Festival in Nancy, France
2000   2 masks with full clothing for the Ethnographic Museum, Antwerpen, Belgium
            Tsam Mask intructor, Royal Academy of Fine Art, Antwerpen, Belguim
2001   10 masks with full clothes. Mongolian & Tibetian Cultural Center of Taipei, Taiwan
2002   20 masks for Amarbayasgalant Monastery, Mongolia
2003   8 masks with full clothing for International Mask Museum Binche, Belgium
2004   20 masks for private collection, Canada
2005   Mask with clothing in ADTI, Washington DC, USA
2007   “Khuree Tsam-108” Master masks, Mongolia


Exhibitions & Activities

1985   Art Exhibition in Moscow
1990   Participated in Asian Art exhibition in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia
1997   Art exhibitions in 14 cities in Switzerland 
1999   Participated the International Passages Festival in Nancy, France
2000   Participated in Mongolian Cultural Days, Cultural Center of Ganshoren, Brussels, Belguim
2001   Participated in International Mask Festival in Miao-Li, Taiwan
            Participated in Art Expo-2001 in Niort, France 
2002   Accompanied Mongolian President, Natsagiin Bagabandi, to Switzerland &
            Liechtenstein and display art exhibition
            Art exhibition & Mongolian cultural program Ile De Re, France              
2003   Mongolian Cultural days and “Yoyage in Mongolia“ exhibition
            International Mask Museum in Binche, Belgium and tour in France
            Mongolian Art exhibition, Arlington Education Center, VA, USA
2004   Solo Art exhibition, Goerge Maison University, Arlington, VA, USA
            Organized from March - to May 2004 A Private Collection Show: Mongolian
            Connoisseurship at E & J Frankel Gallery, New York, NY, USA
            Art exhibition “Ulaanbaatar-360” Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia
            Participated in International Festivals with ”Khan Bogd“ Ensemble tour in France  
            Organized Mongolian Cultural days in France during summer
2005   Art exhibition, KPC Buddhist Temple, Maryland, USA
            Mongolian Tsam Masks & Art exhibition, Tibet House, New-York, USA
            Organized Art exhibitions and tour in Europe
2006   Participated in “Mongolia-Traditions Reborn” Exhibition, National Geographic Museum, USA
            Participated in “Portals to Shangri-La: Masterpieces from Buddhist Mongolia“Exhibition,
            Oglethorpe University Museum of Art, Atlanta, USA
            Exhibition “Echoes from the Steppes”, E & J Frankel gallery, New York, USA
            Participated in International Festivals in France, Belgium and Switzerland
            Established “The Great Story of Mongols” Performing group, Virginia, USA
            Participated in “The Sounds and Colors of Mongolia” Exhibition & Performance
            Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History, Washington D.C., USA
2007   Performance “Mongolia-Family Weekend”, Rubin Museum of Art, New York, USA  
            “Khuree Tsam-108” International Art Festivals, Mongolia, France and USA


Honors & Awards

1977    Awarded the 1st place of Student Competition of All-Mongolia
1985    The First Prize, XII World Festival of Youth and Students in Moscow
1994    Awarded the title Best Cultural Artist of Mongolia
2000    Awarded by the title of ‘Peoples holder of eminent endowment and Gold medal All
             Mongolian Folklore Festival, Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia

2001    Awarded the Diploma International Mask Festival, Miao-Li, Taiwan
2004    Awarded the Diploma Exhibition “Ulaanbaatar-360”, Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia
2005    Artist of the Year among Mongolian community in the USA, Washington DC, USA
2006    Honorable Certificate of the Chinggis Khan’s Mongolia, 800th Anniversary of Great
             Mongolian Empire

Projects

Since 1997   Project to renew and re-establish “Khuree Tsam-108” Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia
Since 2006  “The Great Story of Mongols” musical art show 
Since 2007   “Mongolian House” World Peace Art Centre in Europe and USA
Since 2007   Partipating in exhibition project "Chinggis Khan”