THE MONGOL MESSENGER 7Friday, November 06, 2015

A ‘Mountain Myth’ photo exhibition opened at Bogd Khan Mountain featuring vivid photo images of the Swiss Alps by B.Maralgua in, a young Mongolian photographer. The Sustainable Mountain Art (SMArt) project was implemented by the Foundation for Sustainable Development in Mountain Regions in partnership with the Arts Council of Mongolia.

Last January, the Arts Council of Mongolia (ACM) announced the ‘SMArt’ residency program for professional Mongolian photographers. The project’s goal is to increase capacity building of professional photographers and international artists to expand cooperation and cultural exchange and improve their contribution to regional development.

The SMArt project selected Mongolian photographer Maralgua Badarch through the Arts Council of Mongolia. The Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation funded the project and provided Maralgua. B with a three-month art residency in Switzerland. The art residency program involved international photographers from Asia and Africa attending workshops, sharing experience, and taking photos of the community, environment, nature and mountains. The photographers then present an exhibition in Switzerland and their home country.

The Arts Council of Mongolia presents ‘Mountain myth’ photo exhibition by artist Maralgua.B in Bogd Khan Mountain in November 1-8, 2015. The exhibition consists of Swiss Alps and Mongolian nature photos.

Mountain MythSince ancient times, Mongolians

worshipped the sacred mountains, cloud-

crowned and river-girdled. For thousands of years, Mongols have had the tradition to regard the mountains as animated possessed by lord spirits. As such, they worship mountains and live in harmony with the virtue of earthly blessings. This millennia-old veneration found its home in the works of photographer Maralgua. Through her camera, she captures the magnificence, purity and sanctuary of the mountains that abide within another dimension of time and space. Alpine mountains, snow-capped, icy-frozen, cloud-covered or tree-dressed, are unveiled in Maralgua’s photo that makes a unique narration. Weather sublime, dramatic, inspiring or gloomy, all present these powerful, yet vulnerable formations that are affected by climate change. Her black-and-white and color photographs primarily exhibit natural beauty. In her works, men occasionally appear as a tiny figure, whereby the immensity of the mountains looks even more imposing. With each animal portrait, the artist relaxes the

stage to be playful and free. She focuses her work primarily on motives, light and colors. Embodying a highlight of light and shade increases the plasticity and color intensity of the photographs. The structures on the mountain are accentuated as graphic artwork and the cloud formations are converted into impressionistic structures which emphasize the size and grandeur of the mountain, its divine connection, and all its precious values.

Artist Maralgua B.“Every time I climb up and reach the

mountain peak, I feel myself so minute. Each peak has its distinct path of more or less obstacles; yet each time I ascend a mountain peak, my EGO fades away in the presence of majestic mountains but my inner feelings grow stronger. This feeling sharpens me to strive forward and motivates me for a new start. The path to a mountain

peak is a long walk which gives me time and space to think, talk to myself, solve my problems, and beat down depression. With such inner contemplation, I realize I’m near the peak. At the peak, my mind is purified and I always realize how tiny I am and how insignificant our busy life is, surging, dying-out, or bustling about some tiny space in comparison to the presence of nature.

My passion is to capture emotional moments. My goal is to share these moments with as many people as possible, specifically with those who don’t have the chance to hike up a mountain, feel its nature, and the fresh air. My photos are devoted to everyone and to myself. As an artist, I consider that the closer one is to nature, the more one has the possibility to notice and speak of the problems he or she is facing. Then, one perceives the impact of climate change and gains the opportunity to share, speak and contribute to this issue”.

The American Ballet Program is a full scholarship program for young ballet dancers to enhance their professional development for four-weeks at the Summer Intensive Program of the Colorado Ballet Academy in the U.S.

Since 2012, Orgiltuya D., director of Global Education LLC has involved students from the Music & Dance College in the program. Thus far, it increased the professional skills of 15 young dancers by providing them a full scholarship to study at the Colorado Ballet Academy.

In 2015, the program awarded a full scholarship for 3 students, D.Natsagdorj, Ch.Duurenjargal and Ts.Khishigjargal along with dance teacher B.Enkhchimeg from the Music & Dance College to participate in the 4th level of the Summer Intensive Program in Colorado. The program is sponsored by Ms. Orgiltuya, from the Arts Council of Mongolia (ACM) and ACM-US and supported by the Music & Dance College.

At the end of the session, student D.Natsagdorj successfully accepted participation at the Pre-Professional level. Moreover, the director of the Colorado Ballet Academy expressed interest to work with him in the future. Through the program, international students train in classical, modern and contemporary dance techniques, participate in a series of workshops and joint production performances, and gain practical experience that supports their professional skills. In addition to the official training, students have the opportunity to enjoy local culture and cultural diversity.

Organizers are very happy to announce their fifth edition to support the professional development of young talent in Mongolia in the summer of 2016 with the selection taking place in February 2016.

For more information about the program please visit the Colorado Ballet

Summer Intensive Program 2016 at http://coloradoballet.org/academy/summer

aRTS

Disadvantaged music students benefit from the scholarship program

The ‘Mountain Myth’ photo exhibition is now open at Bogd Khan Mountain

The majesty of the Swiss Alps shrinks our ego and strengthens our feelings

This year, 3 dancers were provided full scholarships to study in Colorado

Arts Council of Mongolia, Delta Foundation Center, IV floor, Tourists Street-38, Chingeltei District Tel/Fax: 976-11-319015 E-mail: education@artscouncil.mn Web: www.artscouncil.mn

ARTS COUNCIL OF MONGOLIA artscouncIl

of mongolIa

For the sixth year, the Arts Council of Mongolia (ACM) has offered a ‘Future Talent’ scholarship program for art students. Funded by the Mongol-American Cultural Association (MACA), the program supports the talents of disadvantaged students who are successfully studying string and wind instruments, music composition, musicology and conducting by providing them a one year scholarship.

Last September, ACM announced that the scholarship will apply to two arts schools: the Mongolian State University of Arts and Culture, and the Music and Dance College.

In 2015, the ACM expanded the scope of the program by increasing the number of scholarship recipients to five students who are: Telmuun-Ochir Ts., Tuvshintugs J., from University of Arts & Culture and Dulguunzaya B., Bilguun B. and Ankhtuya B. from the Music & Dance College.

From 2010 to date, the ACM has granted a total Tgs 18.5 million to 28 students and is grateful to the Mongol-American Cultural Association on behalf of the students.

For more information please visit to www.artscouncil.mn or contact the Arts Council of Mongolia.

‘Mountain Myth’ photo exhibition opens at Bogd Khan Mountain

ACM grants five ‘Future talent’ scholarships American Ballet Program supports young talent