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”