The Nomad Spirit project, organised by EUNIC Mongolia in partnership with the Mongolian Contemporary Art Support Association and other European cultural institutions, brought together artists, residents, and schoolchildren to address climate change through contemporary art.
From September 21 to October 2, 2024, the initiative unfolded in Deren Soum, Dundgovi Province, where ecological challenges like water scarcity and habitat loss are critically felt. Over 260 participants, including artists from Austria, Germany, Finland, France, and Mongolia, engaged in workshops, site-specific art installations, and community exhibitions.
Highlights included:
• Public Art Day, during which over 430 artworks were displayed across natural and public spaces;
• Hands-on workshops led by artists Laura Merz and Zultsetseg Narantsogt, inspiring over 200 children to create art using sustainable materials;
• Striking site-specific installations, such as Cornelia Konrads’ "ger" sculptures symbolising resilience, and Amarsaikhan Namsraijav’s use of abandoned ruins to evoke the memory of nature.
By taking part in workshops and exhibitions, we learnt many ways of creating artworks using environmentally friendly materials and wastes. Film Day was also very special, we saw movies about how people in other countries are improving their lives without spending money.
Munkhnaran Ganbat, Deren school pupil, 11 years old
I look for an experience like this one, to go to original and natural places and work in-situ. Facing challenges makes me feel alive. Nomad Spirit was a very special experience for me and I would love to come back to Mongolia, if you implement such a project again.
elparo, artist from France, 36 years old
The project fostered cultural exchange and highlighted sustainable practices, demonstrating art’s potential to inspire ecological stewardship. The initiative’s reach extended far beyond Deren Soum, engaging an estimate number of 600,000 people through media and social platforms. With plans for future iterations, Nomad Spirit sets a compelling model for using art to address global challenges.
The more I think of this project, the more I see the time we spent together as a precious gift and great experience.
Cornelia Conrads, artist from Germany, 67 years old
The project design was very effective. It reached the whole community, especially all kids of this small village. The project enabled schoolchildren to bring their voices and worries about environment and climate changes through art. They learnt how to create artworks using natural materials and unusual tools.
Zultsetseg Narantsogt, artist from Mongolia
Watch the video here to get a glimpse of this project! A full documentary will be shared in the future.
More information can be found here.
