Nomads (2014) by Baatarzorig BatjargalQueensland Art Gallery & Gallery of Modern Art (QAGOMA)
Baatarzorig Batjargal created this painting titled 'Nomads' in 2014.
Batjargal’s Mongol zurag paintings possess a strong element of social criticism. They betray the influence of Chinese political pop with their use of recognisable historical figures and their juxtaposition of traditional and consumerist imagery.
Drawing as much from caricature and political allegory as from traditional painterly motifs, Batjargal brings satirical humour to the serious content of his work.
Aesthetically distinguished by fine shading and epic composition, his paintings are particularly concerned with the loss of traditional heritage through a succession of regimes, from the culture of Soviet-style communism to the rising inequalities in contemporary capitalism.
The title of 'Nomads' refers to a way of life whose dissolution is felt strongly in Mongolia.
With its immense cast of characters, the work reads as a portrait of the country’s march through the ages and into the present day.
Discover more about 'Nomads'.
