Ulaanbaatar, April 10, 2026 /MONTSAME/. The “Art and Craft–2026” exhibition featuring works by teachers of the Mongolian Art Center for Children's Creativity (MACCC) opened on April 9 at the center’s “Ordon” Art Gallery.

The exhibition aims to support the creative thinking of artist-teachers, promote their professional skills to the public, and provide an open platform for exchanging experiences.

What makes this exhibition distinctive is that it is organized in a competitive format. It plays an important role in fostering teachers’ artistic creativity, contributing to the development of children’s art education, and preserving national cultural heritage.

According to Uranbileg D., Director of MACCC, “This year marks the 15th edition of the exhibition, organized under the theme ‘Mongolian History.’ Our center works to introduce children to national heritage, traditions, history, and customs, and to pass them on to future generations. Through the works of our artist-teachers, we aim to inspire children and students to learn about and take an interest in Mongolia’s history and culture.”

This year’s exhibition features 45 works by 24 teachers. Another highlight is that visitors have the opportunity to purchase the artworks they like.

Leathercraft teacher Byambasuren E. explained, “My work, ‘The Revival of Legend,’ belongs to the leathercraft category. It was created using intricate and delicate techniques, combining leather embossing and leather weaving to express artistic possibilities through my own approach. In terms of content, I incorporated the symbolic ‘Zee bad’ motif into a shield design. This symbol has long represented strength, unity, and protection from evil. It is a traditional symbol widely used in religious and cultural contexts. By choosing the shield form and embedding this motif, I sought to express ideas of protection, resilience, and unity.”

Doll and souvenir craft teacher Urjinkhand A. said, “In my work ‘Heritage,’ I combined traditional livestock branding marks—an important part of nomadic culture—with modern art to create a wall decoration. I spent considerable time developing the initial sketches, exploring different variations, and thinking about how to harmonize traditional symbols with contemporary art. It took more than two months to complete the sketches, design, and final execution. Historically, each Mongolian clan and tribe had its own unique brand marks, which I studied while creating this piece. Through this work, I wanted to demonstrate the possibility of blending traditional culture with modern art to create a new visual expression.”

Painting teacher Purevdorj O. noted, “The overall theme of our exhibition is to depict significant events in Mongolian history from the 13th century to the present through art. In my piece ‘For the Motherland, 1945,’ I portrayed light machine gunners Ayush and Dashdondog, who heroically lost their lives during the 1945 Liberation War. Despite sustaining multiple injuries, they continued fighting, destroyed enemy firing points, and ultimately fell in close combat. This war was a crucial historical event that contributed to Mongolia’s independence and freedom. Through my work, I aimed to convey that patriotism and devotion to one’s homeland live in the heart of every Mongolian. Compositionally, the painting captures a brief moment of rest amid the battle.”

The exhibition will be open to the public until April 22.