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.
Website: www.bi-bid.com
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.
Tsam
Masks
In
1997, we initiated “Khuree Tsam 108” project. “Khuree Tsam 108” is
comprised of a collection of Mongolian traditional masks and costumes
with ritual dance performance. After the completion of the project in
2007, we plan to tour around the globe and present “Khuree Tsam 108”
performance to celebrate the world peace and revival of this important
aspect of ancient Mongolian art and heritage. Moreover, it will be a
significant event that will celebrate and cherish ethnic cultures that
make our world a better place.
About
Tsam masks and their specification
Although,
the origin of the Burkhad (Gods) in Tsam dance relates to Eastern
culture and religion, it is a very unique and special form of art that
reflects ancient Mongolian shamans’ cultural trail and habits. Masks
are created with established method by highly specialized artisans.
Damdinchoijoo
He
is popularly known as Erleg Nomun Khaan among Mongolians. Damdin
Choijoo swore to keep holy Buddha and he is the principle worship of
Boghdo Zonhova. He is a very vicious one who wipes out the enemies and
distinguishes well from bad and truth from untruth. Then he sends
people, who carried out good deeds, to paradise and bad people into
underworld. Choijoo has a wife whose name is Zamindi. He is also
divided into 3 different forms as follows: exterior Choijoo, inner
Choijoo and mysterious Choijoo by his vow, deeds and external image. He
has many erlegiin elch (evil messengers) He holds a cord in his hand to
use it for tying someone who did bad deeds. Choijoon's bag: Ox head,
dark blue body, 2 sharp tasks, 3 shining eyes, burning fire from
eyebrows and beard, curled body and very powerful white skull without
meat in his right hand a cord in his left hand.
Jamsran
He
is popularly known as Dogshin ulaan sakhius. When he dances and acts as
if he cuts enemies and pull out their hearts. Wearing duulga in his
head, he holds flag with sword and tassels in his hand and wears arrows
as well. He also wears Erkhi (like a necklace) which is made of skulls
of 50 people around his neck. He swore to defeat and win all of the
sinful enemies and make people happy for long. He is also a guard of
religion.
The mask of Jamsran Burkhan was made by Puntsag-Osor of
Ikh Khuree (present day Ulaanbaatar). This mask is now in Choijin
Lama's museum in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia. It is an outstanding creature
in Mongolian history and weights about 40kg.
Durteddagva
(Skull)
He
is the lord of ukheer (death). He is responsible for not allowing
enemies to enter the dance stage. Therefore the border of the dance
stage is called border of ukheer. When tsam dancers enter the stage,
they have to pass by 2 Durteddagvas (2 guards). There is a legend about
Durteddagvans body meat was stolen by thieves. So he is shown as a
skeleton. Mongolians have been worshipping Durteddagva to prevent
robbery.
Khangarid
Javdar
deel that has sleeves like bird wings. Dodig, modig, earrings which
have ruujin ornaments. He dances with shake in his mouth, 5 different
coloured tassels in his back and short boots. He is one of the four
almighty animals.
Ochirvaani
He
is considered as main object of worship for the Tsam. All of Khuree
Tsam 108 characters dance in front of Ochirvaani's biggest sacred
portrait. He is the powerful one who obtained all the supernatural
powers of burkhans. He was created to calm down the antagonists by
burkhan’s command. The mask is made to express magic power with its
mouth opened roughly, four poisonous tasks bared, three red eyes shone
like lightning, and orange hair disheveled.
He is a powerful object
of worship who sworn to defeat the cruel, sinful people who do not
respect the religion. He does all of this to lead people to sacrificed
charity. He is represented as majestic one with one face, 2 arms and
body of dark blue color. He looks very furious with thunderbolt in his
right hand. He lifts the thunderbolt up towards heavenly sky and it
symbolizes abolishment and defeat of all enemies. With his arm on his
chest, it aims to conquer enemies.
Namsrai
He
is Choijin sakhius. Namsrai loves all the fine things, and frees
impoverished people who are in danger and great hunger. In addition, he
eliminates reasons of poisonings and accomplishes every good reasons of
living happy. Namsrai does what people want and desire. Namsrai’s mask:
Beautiful image with a little curious glance, stately and restive but
calm. He wears golden armor and various other treasures. He dances with
erdeniin tsogt jantsan in his right hand and a mouse vomiting with
treasure in his left hand.
Makhi
Wearing
dark blue deel that decorated like other clothes such as tradtional
Mongolian boots. Makhi has got bowl and tassel in his hand.
Khashin
khaan
Khashin khaan’s 8 children- glittering silk-made deel of 8 different
colors, short javdar and boots.
Tsagaan
uvgun
Tsagaan
uvgun- (White old man) White and spotty deel. Deel without color is
like Lamhan’s deel. Boots are made from tiger skin. He has a dragon
shaped stick. He is a lord of earth, heaven and livestock.
Gombo
sakhius
He
is called Makhagal, in Mongolian Ikh khar. Gombo is a guard of Choijin
sakhius and next reincarnation of Aryabal Janraisig. He is a god who
swore to keep people away from troubles and make them happy.
Particularly when people die he brings them directly to paradise. His
body is dark bluer. A severe look, rough behaviour, 4 sharp tasks, 3
eyes, curled body and angry face builds his unique appearance. Orange
hair tailed, burning fire from eyebrows and beard, wrinkled language,
degve in his right hand., bloody skull and bowl in his left hand.
Gongor
sakhius
It
is called Tsagaan Mahagal (white makhagal) in Mongolian language. He is
also called Choijin sakhius, a guard of religion. He abolishes
difficulties to make people rich of items and food. He is the heaven of
wealth. Gongor’s mask: Body is yellow, white face, with little curious
glance and joyful face. Zendmene /erdenenorov/ is in his right hand,
and there is a skull bowl filled treasure in his left hand.
Buga
(shava)
Buga
means deer. He dances with Makhi together and he is responsible for
increasing the cattle of people. He is the representative of all
animals. In some places Buga dances with a female deer together.
More Info:
www.bi-bid.com
www.face-music.ch
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