Baasanjav Choijiljav

BAASANJAW CHOIJILJAW (b.1977)

Baasanjav Choijiljav is a Mongolian artist known for his pioneering role in the development of the contemporary version of the Mongol Zurag painting style. Technically similar to Tibetan Tangka, Mongol Zurag was developed in the early 20^th century and was mostly characterized by the depiction of secular themes. Although the style was not encouraged during socialist times, some artists used it to depict socialist ideology and nationalist themes. The Mongol Zurag had finally revived after 1990s, and artist Baasanjav was the one who first started using its technique and traditional motif in contemporary art practice, addressing social, political, and environmental issues of his own country.

Trained at the Institute of Fine Arts, Mongolian University of Arts and Culture in 2000-2005, Baasanjav organized his first solo exhibition in 2006 in Ulaanbaatar, then at Fukuoka Asian Art Museum in Japan (2013), in Barcelona, Spain (2007), Gwangju, South Korea (2018) and again in Ulaanbaatar in 2019. His style and motif gained the attention of international critics and curators and was invited to present his works at 5^th Fukuoka Asian Art Triennial, Japan in 2012, 8^th (2012) and 9^th (2014) Shanghai International Art Biennale, China, Arsenal (2012), Kiev Biennale, Ukraine as well as other exhibitions in Hong Kong (2011), South Korea (2008 and 2015), Italy (2009) and in NY, USA in 2019.

SEE FULL CV

Education
2005 Institute of Fine Art at University of Arts and Culture, Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia

Solo Exhibitions
2018 Sechion history, Gwangju Mugdam, Gwangju, South Korea
2013 Art Creation, Ajibi Museum, Fukuoka, Japan
2007 Great Mongol Empire, Galeria Antonio de Barnola in Barcelona, Spain
2006 Mongol Zurag, Zanabazar Museum of Fine Arts, Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia

International biennales and triennials
2014  5^th Fukuoka Asian Art Triennial, Fukuoka, Japan
2012  9^th Shanghai International Art Biennale, Shanghai, China
2012  Arsenal 2012, Kiev Biennale, Ukraine
2010  8^th Shanghai International Art Biennale

Group Exhibitions
2023 Households Lost in Globalization, Chingis Khan Museum, Ulaanbaatar
2019 Art of Everyday, Sapar Contemporary, NY, USA
2019 Heritage, Mongolia Culture Society, Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia
2018 Mongolian Art, Gwangju Biennale, Korea
2016 Silk Road, Art Gallery UMA, Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia
2016 Best Works, Mongolian National Modern Art Gallery, Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia
2015 Mongolian Korean Artists Exhibition, Taejon City Art Gallery, Taejon, Korea
2014 Mongol Zurag, State Museum of History, Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia
2011 International Contemporary Art, Galvert 22, London, UK
2011 Modern Mongolia, Hanart Gallery, Hong Hong
2010 From Steppe to Urban Dynamics, Hanart TZ Gallery, Hong Kong
2010 From Imagination to Creation, State Modern Art Gallery, Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia
2009 Joint Korean Mongolian Art Olympics, Cheju, South Korea
2008 Mongolian Traditional Painting, touring exhibition, Venice and other cities in Italy
2007 Spring, Art Gallery of UMA, Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia
2006 Before and Now, Art Gallery of UMA, Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia
2005 Mongolian Scripts, Art Gallery of UMA, Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia
2005 Spring, Art Gallery of UMA, Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia
2004 Mongolian Traditional Painting, Art Gallery of UMA, Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia
2004 Spring, Art Gallery of UMA, Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia
2004 Autumn, Zanabazar Museum of Fine Arts, Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia

Annual Exhibitions
2012, 2013, 2018 Mongol Zurag, Art Gallery UMA, Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia
2004, 2005, 2007, 2016 Spring, Art Gallery UMA, Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia

Residencies
2013 Fukuoka Asian Art Museum Residence Program, Japan

Press & Publications
2020    Brasil De Fato: Hunger will kill us before covid-19
2019    The Tribeca Trib: Art From Mongolia at Sapar Contemporary
2019    My Art Beat: Mongol Zurag
2019    Sapar Contemporary: Mongol Zurag – The Art of Everyday
2018    University of Saint Thomas: Buddhism and Contemporary Art in Mongolia
2014    Fukuoka Asian Art Museum: Baasanjav Choijiljav