A JOURNEY THROUGH TIME AND SPACE – A NOMADIC RESIDENCY IN MONGOLIA: OPEN CALL FOR INTERNATIONAL ARTISTS

Getting around Ulaanbaatar city

Artists will spend one week in the capital city of Ulaanbaatar, staying in centrally located shared apartments. Ulaanbaatar is Mongolia’s political, economic, and social hub and a truly nomadic capital. It changed its location 28 times until it permanently settled at its present site in 1778. You will pass a large suburban area, where traditional nomadic felt tents are located next to western-styled houses. This energetic city of close to two million people is home to nearly half of the Mongolian population. After the collapse of the socialist system in 1990, the city has grown 3 times. Migration, traffic, air pollution and corruption are tremendous challenges to this fast-growing city. The program will provide specific guidance for getting around a city.

Studio visits and meetings with artists

Despite its relatively short history, the Mongolian contemporary art scene has made significant progress over the past 25 years, which has now become extraordinarily vibrant and diverse and is deeply influenced by its traditional cultures and beliefs. Until early 2010, Mongolian contemporary art was underrepresented not only on the world stage, but also in its home country. Organizations such as Blue Sun Contemporary Art Center, Arts Council of Mongolia, and Mongolian Contemporary Art Support Association Mongolia (MCASA) have played a pivotal role in shaping today’s contemporary art scene and introducing them to a wider public. Since 2012, MCASA, which is an umbrella organization of the Red Corner Residency, has been implementing pioneering projects to bring Mongolian artists to the international stage, by collaborating with internationally known exhibitions, such as the Venice Art Biennale, Documenta, Asia Pacific Triennial and others. The program will arrange meetings and studio visits to introduce the practices of the best contemporary artists of Mongolia.
 

Horseback riding tour in Terelj National Park

For those who want to experience the Mongolian countryside on horseback, this ride will cover some spectacular terrain and have exposure to traditional nomadic herding culture. Famous for its unique rock formations and open grasslands, Terelj National Park is located just outside Ulaanbaatar at 67km, and offers a quick escape into stunning natural landscapes. Artists can go hiking, horseback riding, or just enjoy the view. The park supports local nomadic families and helps preserve Mongolia’s culture and environment. The program will arrange a day trip to Terelj National Park and a horseback riding tour.
 

Trip to Ikh Gazriin Chuluu, a majestic granite formation in the Gobi Desert

Ikh Gazriin Chuluu is one of Mongolia’s fascinating natural wonders, located 267km from Ulaanbaatar city. Peaceful and majestic surroundings of Ikh Gazriin Chuluu in Dundgovi province, where ancient rock formations rise quietly from the desert floor, stretching from west to east, covering approximately 20 kilometers and reaching a peak height of 1,706 meters. Artists can explore countless rock hills and caves, walking through hidden chambers carved over centuries. This is a place to completely immerse yourself in a refreshing, expansive and fascinating environment in which participants can explore new practices and possibilities and collect materials such as images and sounds. The program will arrange a 3-day trip to Ikh Gazriin Chuluu.
 

Staying with a nomadic family

To understand the true spirit of the Mongolian people, the best way is to visit a nomadic family. Over thousands of years, nomads have passed down their wisdom of worshiping, adapting, and living in harmony with nature. Their lifestyle is self-sufficient, deeply connected to the land, the cycles of nature, and their animals. Nomads move with their mobile and portable dwelling gers in search of better pastures and water for their animals from place to place all year round. Staying with a nomad family is a great opportunity to glimpse into this unique lifestyle, try the local food and drink in the most natural settings. They may also invite guests to help with chores, such as milking cows, shearing goats, and preparing meals.

With the permission of hosts, artists can interview family members, collect sounds and images, while staying with them. Mongolian nomads are generally known to be friendly and hospitable. But understanding their customs, social norms, and lifestyle is crucial to appreciating the nuances of their daily lives. The program will arrange a 3-day camping stay alongside a nomadic family living in the Gobi Steppes.
 

Group meetings

The program will organize two meetings involving all participants, where (1) artists will present their practices at the beginning of the program and (2) share their findings, inspirations, and ideas by the end of the program, with the aim of engaging artists in process-driven activities that enable collaboration, networking, and experience, and knowledge sharing among participants. These events are informal, and some local artists may join in.

Expectations towards the artist

We expect close collaboration, and experience and knowledge sharing among participating artists while taking part of the program. Conditions of off-road travel and staying with a nomadic family may seem unusual for many. The program will put special effort into making travel smoother, more pleasant and effective for everyone. And in exchange, we will expect participants to show respect to the program organizers and members of the nomadic families.

It is a self-funded residency program. The total fee for the participation is 1.900USD, excluding international travel. Fee includes airport pick-up, accommodation, food, off-road travels, organization of trips, studio visits and meetings. Most of the costs occur on off-road travel. We encourage artists to apply for funds from international organizations, such as ASEF, Prince Claus Fund, or funding organizations of their respective countries. For the selected applicants, the residency will provide letters and information necessary for obtaining visas and grants. The program will require artists to have travel insurance. Selected applicants will be required to pay the 50% deposit three months in advance.

Accommodation 

Artists will spend 5 days at the beginning and 3 days by the end of the program in the capital city of Ulaanbaatar. Residency will arrange centrally located shared apartments for the participants. A day trip to Terelj Park will not require accommodation.

In Ikh Gazriin Chuluu, artists will stay in Ger for 3 nights provided by a local camp. Ger (often called yurt) is a round-shaped traditional Mongolian housing with a cone-like roof, covered by felt under canvas, which is used for thousands of years as a family dwelling by nomads. Each ger will have 3–4 beds, so artists need to share the space. The camp has a toilet and shower.

While visiting a nomadic family for 3 days, artists will stay in a camping tent. Residency will provide a small-sized tent, sleeping bag and mattress for each artist. The place will not have a shower and mother nature will be used as a toilet.

Meals

In Ulaanbaatar, artists can prepare their meals at their apartments using the kitchen amenities provided. Grain products, tea, coffee, cookies, basic vegetables, meat, egg, and ingredients will be provided. In the countryside, the residency staff will arrange meals at local camps and offer food prepared by host families.

Required materials

The applicants should send the following information to info@redcorner-mongolia.com:
–        Portfolio and links to their work (in English)
–        Country of origin and current residence;
–        A short description of the plan during stay in Mongolia, if you have any, in addition to the program (in English);
–        Food restriction, if any;
–        Any other information, the applicant wants to let the Red Corner team know.
It is important to note that applicant must be able to communicate in English. Please don’t hesitate to contact us with any questions about our residency and its programs.

Application submission deadline 

The deadline for submitting a request for the participation is March 15, 2025.