Ulaanbaatar, August 15, 2025 /MONTSAME/. The first Joint Exhibition titled “Mongolian Doll Makers Exhibition in Ulaanbaatar,” opened at the Union of Mongolian Artists on August 13, 2025.

Dolls — human or animal figures — have been used since the Paleolithic era for spiritual and ritual purposes, serving as a bridge between the seen and unseen worlds. Over time, they have played an important role in passing down folk traditions and culture, helping children understand their surroundings, and fostering human connections.

In Mongolia, doll-making developed into a professional art form in 1976.

The Exhibition provides an overview of the history and contemporary development of doll-making while uniquely linking traditional heritage with modern innovations. More than 20 artists are participating, showcasing over 100 works in diverse genres — including artistic pieces, fashion dolls, and creations for theater, animation, and film.

Doll Maker Ch. Enkhtuvshin has been creating artworks for 20 years. Ch. Enkhtuvshin produces six types of dolls, including fashion, animation, master, cyborg, and commercial models. For this exhibition, Doll artist Ch. Enkhtuvshin presents a “gamedoll” figure, Khurel Erdene Mangas with a blue roan horse from the Heavenly Realm, along with another animation-style doll.

Doll artist Ch. Enkhtuvshin noted, “In 2006, I held an exhibition of 208 dolls designed to reflect Mongolian daily life and culture. To date, I have created over 3,000 dolls, most of which are closely tied to Mongolian heritage and traditions. For this exhibition, I spent six years crafting the character Khurel Erdene Mangas with a blue roan horse from the Heavenly Realm from the Epic of Jangar (tuuli). In general, “gamedoll” is distinctive for being crafted according to its own original storyline. I have not read or heard much about the epics and folktales such as Jangar, Geser, and The Secret History of the Mongols, so I adapt the stories to suit children’s needs, transforming them into interactive toys and animated characters to introduce these nationally significant figures. As an artist, my goal is to convert intangible heritage into tangible works for future generations, thereby ensuring the continuity of our cultural legacy. I believe that a good character comes from a good story, and a good story creates a good character. Epic of Jangar contains a multitude of characters; I am currently creating the Khurel Erdene Mangas figure and plan to eventually produce the 80,000 warrior characters. Ultimately, these works should become national content, and I am organizing a team-based system to achieve this.”

Artist J. Unurjargal emphasized, “I participate in the exhibition with a ball-jointed doll, a type popular in Asia. This doll features fully movable joints and a standard body, but allows customizable facial expressions. All joints are connected by strings or ball mechanisms. A simple doll takes at least 15–20 days to make, while a complex one can require six months to a year. A doll is not merely a toy but a work of art.”

The Exhibition will run until August 26, 2025, accompanied by open discussions and master classes for both adults and children.