Ulaanbaatar
"Enchanting Urga" — Oscar Mamen’s Photo Exhibition of Mongols 100 Years Ago
Art & Culture
Ulaanbaatar, September 18, 2024 /MONTSAME/. A mixed-media photo exhibition "Enchanting Urga" opened on September 17, 2024, at the National Art Gallery of Mongolia.
A Norwegian trade representative embarked on a business trip to
Urga, or Urgoo (today’s Ulaanbaatar) 113 years ago, an extraordinary journey that
would forever change his life and secure his place in history as a traveler,
researcher, and photographer. That man was Oscar Mamen (1885-1955).
During his time in Mongolia over a century ago, Mamen captured
over 8,000 photographs and preserved over 500 artifacts, documenting the
essence of a bygone era. These photos and artifacts became treasured heirlooms,
allowing Mr. Mamen to recount his adventures like stories from a mystical tale
to his children and grandchildren. His historical photographs, documents, and
notes, invaluable historical records that stir pride in the Mongolian people
and encapsulate the spirit of Urga at the time, were unveiled to the public and
made available to researchers in 2017.
In 2023, a Mongolian artist reached out to Oslo
University researcher Maria Kartveit, proposing a collaboration to bring
Mamen's legacy to the public through a joint photo exhibition. Mamen's
grandchildren, who grew up with stories of Mongolia arrived in the country for
the first time to attend the exhibition.
Artist N. Otgonbat, who creates art using multimedia and displayed
the artworks in his solo exhibitions like "Khelkhee" and
"Tunamal," this time has incorporated Oscar Mamen’s historical
photographs into his artworks.
This exhibition reimagines the traditional approach to historical
photos, displaying a creative blend of mixed-technique photography.
Curated by A. Bolormaa, an art Ph.D. candidate who lived in
Norway for 10 years, the exhibition provides an enchanting experience of life
in Urga. It reflects the personal connections Oscar Mamen formed, his
friendships, dreams, and the good omens he carried with him.
The "Enchanting Urga" exhibition will be open to the
public until September 24, 2024.
