Ürjingiin Yadamsüren
Encyclopedia
Ürjingiin Yadamsüren was a Mongolia
n artist. As a young man he learned traditional wood carving from his grandfather and block-printed
Buddhist scripture with a monk uncle. In 1930 he moved to Ulan Bator, where he worked as a typesetter, and then on to Moscow
to study at the Communist University of the Toilers of the East
and Surikov Art Institute. Returning to Mongolia in 1942, Yadamsüren became a well known portrait painter, his work focusing on revolutionary figures (such as Marshall Choibalsang and Sükhbaatar) depicted in a European style. In the 1950s he returned to a more traditional aesthetic, using the techniques of pre-revolutionary Buddhist art to capture contemporary, secular scenes of everyday life. Yadamsüren did much to popularise this neotraditional style, known as Mongol zurag
, with his 1958 work entitled The Old Fiddler . Depicting an old man holding a morin khuur
(horse-head fiddle), it remains one of Mongolia's most frequently reproduced paintings.
Mongolia
Mongolia is a landlocked country in East and Central Asia. It is bordered by Russia to the north and China to the south, east and west. Although Mongolia does not share a border with Kazakhstan, its western-most point is only from Kazakhstan's eastern tip. Ulan Bator, the capital and largest...
n artist. As a young man he learned traditional wood carving from his grandfather and block-printed
Woodblock printing
Woodblock printing is a technique for printing text, images or patterns used widely throughout East Asia and originating in China in antiquity as a method of printing on textiles and later paper....
Buddhist scripture with a monk uncle. In 1930 he moved to Ulan Bator, where he worked as a typesetter, and then on to Moscow
Moscow
Moscow is the capital, the most populous city, and the most populous federal subject of Russia. The city is a major political, economic, cultural, scientific, religious, financial, educational, and transportation centre of Russia and the continent...
to study at the Communist University of the Toilers of the East
Communist University of the Toilers of the East
The Communist University of the Toilers of the East or KUTV was established April 21, 1921, in Moscow by the Communist International as a training college for communist cadres in the colonial world. The school officially opened on October 21, 1921...
and Surikov Art Institute. Returning to Mongolia in 1942, Yadamsüren became a well known portrait painter, his work focusing on revolutionary figures (such as Marshall Choibalsang and Sükhbaatar) depicted in a European style. In the 1950s he returned to a more traditional aesthetic, using the techniques of pre-revolutionary Buddhist art to capture contemporary, secular scenes of everyday life. Yadamsüren did much to popularise this neotraditional style, known as Mongol zurag
Mongol zurag
Mongol zurag is a style of painting in Mongolian art. Developed in the early 20th century, zurag is characterised by the depiction of secular, nationalist themes in a traditional mineral-paint–on–cotton medium similar to Tibetan thangka...
, with his 1958 work entitled The Old Fiddler . Depicting an old man holding a morin khuur
Morin khuur
The morin khuur is a traditional Mongolian bowed stringed instrument. It is one of the most important musical instruments of the Mongol people, and is considered a symbol of the Mongolian nation. The morin khuur is one of the Masterpieces of the Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity identified...
(horse-head fiddle), it remains one of Mongolia's most frequently reproduced paintings.