The artistic tradition of Russian Academism in Mongolian contemporary art (a study of the historical paintings by Mongolian artist B. Otgontuvden)

Abstract

This article examines some features of the development of the academic tradition in Mongolian contemporary fine art, represented by the work of a graduate of the Saint Petersburg Academic Institute of Painting, Sculpture and Architecture named after I.E. Repin, Mongolian artist B. Otgontuvden. It is of great historical and artistic interest since it allows us to answer the question about the relevance of academicism in modern conditions, marked by the clear dominance of modernist trends. An analysis of Otgontuvden’s works on a historical theme allows us to show what is the essence of the creative strategy of academicism, which allows it to maintain social relevance in the context of the search for the national identity, which is extremely typical for today’s Mongolia. On the other hand, the example of Otgontuvden’s paintings clearly shows how the academic movement in the 21st century manages to successfully develop the main typological varieties of historical painting that were formed in the previous era, and accompanying expressive techniques. The article shows that the main guarantee of their effective adaptation to new content themes, borrowed from Mongolian history, is a number of features of the spiritual and everyday culture of modern Mongolia, manifested mainly in its unique combination of signs of the past and present.