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Orna Tsultem: The Art of Resistance


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When a culture faces profound change, what endures? In Mongolia of the 1930s, as Buddhist monasteries were dismantled and ancient practices set aside, artists navigated a complex reality. From this transformation emerged Mongol Zurag, an art form that honored the past while engaging with a changing present.


Orna Tsultem, whose father was an influential artist during Mongolia's socialist period, shares how Mongol Zurag became a space where cultural identity survived despite radical shifts. Her work bringing Mongolian art to Western institutions addresses the absence of these important stories in global conversations.


This conversation reveals how creative responses to yesterday's challenges speak to our contemporary questions—environmental sustainability, cultural recognition, and how economic systems affect creative expression.


In this episode, you'll discover:

How Mongol Zurag preserved cultural memory when traditions were interrupted

What happened when artists had to adapt to Socialist Realism

Why bringing overlooked art to new audiences transforms our understanding

How creativity becomes a bridge between worlds and across time


Listen now to explore how art moves beyond borders and time, offering fresh perspectives on our connections with each other and the world we share.


Episode Length: 50 minutes


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Infinite SearchBy The Infinite Search