In the realms where the earth whispers its secrets and where the wind carries the echoes of ancient memories, you’ll find the captivating artistry of Nomin Zezegmaa. Her work interweaves narratives inspired by deep time and the spiritual realms of Mongol cosmogony.

ᠴᠢᠨᠠᠳᠤ ᠰᠠᠯᠬ  (The Wind on the Other Side) invites viewers into a dialogue celebrating the intertwined dance of all living beings. What mysteries lie within our understanding of the natural world, which cradles every form of life? Nomin’s art, imbued with a sense of sacredness, takes on various forms in a captivating exhibition that transcends mere display. Her pieces connect the physical and the unseen, encouraging us to discover the deep connections between ourselves and nature’s elements.

Through her artistic vision, Nomin aims to share a compelling perspective on how we see, think, and imagine, revealing our intertwined relationship with the very heart of the earth — the waters, the soils, and all the life they support.

• More about Nomin Zezegmaa

13.07.24 / 13.00 – 16.00: Film screening State of Dogs (1998)

During the first screening, we will feature State of Dogs (1998), a Mongolian film directed and written by Belgian filmmaker and anthropologist Peter Brosens and Mongolian writer and director Dorjkhandyn Turmunkh. The screening will be followed by an online talk with one of the film’s creators.

State of Dogs is a unique blend of personal narrative and social commentary. The film is both visually striking and evocative, following the journey of Basaar, a stray dog killed by a hunter in Ulan Bator. According to Mongolian tradition, dogs are believed to be reincarnated as humans, yet Basaar is uncertain about embracing this fate.

While Baasar’s body lies cold on the steppes, his soul now roams freely. Before reincarnating as a human, the film’s voiceover explains, Baasar’s soul will revisit all the places he once knew. Viewers join this journey through the changing seasons with a nomadic herder family, later witnessing the pollution and chaos of an urban cityscape.

Music, mythology, social commentary, and philosophical reflections converge in this captivating cinematic experience.

18.07.24 / 18.00 – 20.00: Film screening City of the Steppes (1994) and Poets of Mongolia (1999)

On Thursday, July 18th, we will screen two short films: City of the Steppes (1994) and Poets of Mongolia (1999), both directed and written by Peter Brosens.

City of the Steppes (1994)
After Russia, Mongolia became the second country to adopt communism. Its population endured decades of isolation as the country remained closed to foreign visitors for seventy years. The collapse of the communist regime in Russia sparked a political revolution in Mongolia. Barriers were lifted, and a process of democratization began.

In 1993, Belgian filmmakers Peter Brosens and Odo Haflants visited Mongolia during its first democratic elections. They stayed for four months, capturing impressions of a country in transition. The result is an impressionistic and poetic film. The filmmakers focused their lens primarily on the capital, Ulan Bator, and the city of Choyr. Their distinctive style includes long shots and a deliberate distance from their subjects, allowing viewers to interpret the scenes for themselves.

Poets of Mongolia (1999)
‘Poets of Mongolia’ is part of Peter Brosens’ (‘Khadak’) triptych on Mongolia. Similar to the first installment, ‘State of Dogs’, Brosens uniquely explores the lives of Mongolian people in the post-Soviet era. This documentary doesn’t focus on famous Mongolian poets but rather on ordinary individuals and their deep connection to Mongolian culture, experiencing poetry in their own personal ways.

Set against Mongolia’s rugged landscapes, predominantly snow-covered plains and desolate areas, the profound influence of poetry becomes more apparent. In ‘Poets of Mongolia’, we encounter various characters including coal miners, a blind singer, and a Mongolian woman residing in Belgium. Each person integrates poetry into their lives in a distinct and meaningful manner.

30.05.24 / 17.00 – 20.00: Opening solo exhibition The Wind on the Other Side.

You are most welcome to join us for the festive opening of The Wind on the Other Side by Nomin Zezegmaa during Amsterdam Art Week 2024.

31.05.24 / 12.00 – 13.00: Performance Vertical Communication by Nomin Zezegmaa.

The performance Vertical Communication reflects on the direct ancestral dial which is carried through the smoke of the burned juniper used as incense—rising to the sky and thus carrying one’s prayers, pleas and invocations up. Vertical Communication is a reminder of borderless exchange: through energy, through engagement with all-that-is-around considered non-human in a personified, respectful manner.

01.06.24 / 16.00 – 17.00: Music performance by Yesun-Erdene Bat.

Nomin has invited Yesun, a Mongolian throat singer and horse head violin player. He will be performing during the opening of her exhibition The Wind on the Other Side. This event is part of Amsterdam Art Week 2024.

Yesun (Yesun-Erdene Bat) was born in 1988 in Selenge Yruu, a place on the banks of the Selenge River on the northern border of Mongolia with Russia. He is a founding member of Tengerton music group, which was founded in 2023. He studied Mongolian folklore songs, music and culture at the National University in the Mongolian capital Ulaanbaatar. Yesun has had numerous performances as a soloist and guest appearances with various ensembles such as Hosoo & Transmongolia, Sound Affinities Ensemble, Ephyra, Khukh Mongol, Egschiglen, Hatan and Sedaa in Germany and other European countries.

05.06.24 / 19.00 – 20.00: Artist Talk Nomin Zezegmaa.
Meet Nomin Zezegmaa who will tell about her artist’s practice.

All events take place at Galerie Bart,
Elandsgracht 16, 1016TW Amsterdam
Free entrance