SOLONGO Tsegmid
My soul like a bird with open wings, I am a human-bird
Artist and Researcher
Member of the Union of Mongolian Artists (since 2015)
Solongo Tsegmid is a Mongolian artist, researcher, Mongolian language lector, and PhD candidate at the Department of Mongolian and Inner Asian Studies, Eötvös Loránd University in Budapest (since September 2021). Her doctoral research focuses on “Textual and Illustrative Traditions of the Mongolian Ganzai Fulfilment Offerings Devoted to Tantric Buddhist Protective Deities.”
She earned both her bachelor’s and master’s degrees from the Mongolian State University of Culture and the Arts, specializing in decorative arts and cultural studies. Her master’s thesis, “Study of Offering Kangdze (Tib. bskang rdzas) in the Museum Collection of the Palden Lhamo Deity,” was successfully defended under the supervision of Prof. D. Davaasuren in 2019.
Between 2010 and 2018, Solongo worked at the Fine Arts Zanabazar Museum as a researcher, designer, and museum guide. During her tenure, she was involved in exhibition development, catalogue publishing, preservation and restoration studies, and public educational programmes. She has also held five solo art exhibitions and has been creating art consistently for over 19 years, including leather art, painting, installation, and calligraphy.
Solongo’s passion for Mongolian script and calligraphy was inspired by her grandmother, a skilled calligrapher. This early influence shaped her decision to become an artist and to pursue the expressive harmony between art and script through calligraphy. Since 2011, she has dedicated herself to the art of Mongolian calligraphy, aiming to promote and revitalize the traditional script globally.
Since 2015, she has been a researcher at the Foundation of the Saint and Reincarnations of the Mongols NGO. In 2023, she began teaching at GUYEM Mongolian School in Hungary, at the Educational Development Centre.
Her academic and artistic interests lie at the intersection of Mongolian studies, particularly Mongolian Buddhist art, cultural heritage, and fine arts, where she continues to conduct specialized, interdisciplinary research and creative work. She is dedicated to promoting and studying Mongolian heritage, culture, and language.
Her heart is always filled with joy when even a single person connects with Mongolian culture and starts speaking the language.
Membership
· Union of Mongolian Artists, since 2015
· Rotaract Club of Nairamdal, Mongolia, since 2015
· “Khürel Buga” Association of Mongolian Leather Artists, Mongolia, since 2014
· Advicer of Mongolian Student Union in Hungary NGO, Hungary, since 2021
Solo exhibitions
“Soul Bird” solo exhibition, Blue Moon Art Gallery, Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia, 2014
“Antidote” solo exhibition, the Fine Arts Zanabazar Museum exhibition hall, Ulaanbaatar, 2016
“Five Wishes” solo exhibition, “Bum” Art Gallery, Ulaanbaatar, 2017
“Antidote” solo exhibition, Black Room-Union Scene ”Art Gallery, Drammen, Norway, 2017
“Golden Bridle” solo exhibition, “Red Ger” Art Gallery by the Mongolian Art Council, Ulaanbaatar 2019
Actively took part in over 30 different joint exhibitions in different galleries, as well as in annual exhibitions organized by the Union of Mongolian Artists, the “Khurel Buga” Association of Mongolian Leather Artists, and the “New Century Art” Young and Rising Artists Group, 2010-2021.
“Thank you, Hungary,” with artist O. Enkhtaiwan, joint exhibition named Petőfi Museum Hall, Budapest, Hungary, 2023.
“ETUGEN” contemporary art exhibition, Arkhangai province, Mongolia, ARA complex, 2023
Conference
Study of ‘GANZAI’ Offering in Mongolian Museum Collections. Conference on Mongolian Fine Art, Aspects of Obstacles in Mongol Zurag—Mongolian Traditional Painting, School of Culture and Social Sciences, Mongolian State University of Culture, Ulānbātar 2018 (presentation in Mongolian 29 November)
Study of ‘GANZAI’ Offering and its Symbolism. Conference on Mongolian Fine Art, Aspects of Obstacles in Mongol Zurag—Mongolian Traditional Painting, School of Culture and Social Sciences, Mongolian State University of Culture, Ulānbātar 2019 (presentation in Mongolian 14 October).
Art Research in the Fine Art Journals between 1970 and 1990, Fine Art Journal. Mongolian Fine Arts and Design Development conference, School of Culture and Social Sciences, Mongolian State University of Culture, Ulānbātar 2020 (presentation in Mongolian 21 October)
Description of Ornaments and Features of Artist M. Zeyelkhan’s Artworks. Literature and Art Studies, National University of Mongolia, Ulaanbaatar 2022 (presentation in Mongolian 26 June)
Offering Animals of Mongolian Ganzais Exemplified by Shridevi’s Ritual Text and Image. Fourth International Conference on Mongolian Buddhism, Aspects of Mongolian Buddhism: Animals, Plants, and Bioethics. Department of Mongolian and Inner Asian Studies, Eötvös Loránd University, Budapest, Hungary, 20-21 October 2022.
Ganzai in Mongolian Museums. Fourth International Mongolistic Conference on Mongolia and the Mongols: Past and Present. Department of Mongolian and Tibetan Studies, University of Warsaw, Warsaw, Poland, 16-17 October 2023.
Three Ganzai Images of Shankhiin Baruun Khüree Khiid Monastery in Mongolia. Workshop: Relinking Field, Archives, and Languages: Oral and Written Sources in Mongolia and Central Asia, Faculty of Arts, Masaryk University, Brno, Czech Republic, 8 November 2023.
Connection of Śrīdevi’s Fulfilment Offering (Khal. Ganzai, Tib. bskang rdzas) Depiction and Ritual Text (Khal. Gaans, Tib. bskang gso). Hungarian Buddhist Studies Conference, Department of Tibetology and Buddhist Studies, Institute of East Asian Studies, Eötvös Loránd University, Budapest, Hungary, 11 July 2024.
Fulfilment Offering (Khal. ganjai, Tib. bskang rdzas) in Contemporary Mongolian Buddhist Art: G. Gündar’’s Śrīdevī’s Offering Painting. European Conference of Mongolian Studies. Department of Asian and North African Studies, Ca’ Foscari University, Venice, Italy, 27-29 November 2024.
The Ganzai Fulfilment Offering of Khanbogd Mountain and the “Invocation to Galba Mountain” Ritual Text. Aspects of Mongolian Buddhism—Textual Tradition of Mongolian Buddhism: Written and Oral Traditions. ELTE Eötvös Loránd University, Department of Mongolian and Inner Asian Studies, Budapest, Hungary, 8–9 April 2025.
Professional experience
· Curator of more than 200 exhibitions organized by the Fine Arts Dzanabazar Museum, Ulaanbaatar, 2021
· Training in public awareness raising and Workshop on the fight against illegal trafficking of Cultural Heritages organized by UNESCO Mongolia, Ulaanbaatar 2011 (also organizer)
· Cultural Industry International Forum organized by the Mongolian State University of Culture and Art and the Arts Council of Mongolia, Ulaanbaatar 2015 (also organizer)
· Teacher and hosting artist at different workshops of 12 national and international projects and fundraising events, 2010-2020
· Artist and decorator of 5 children’s rooms at Hospitals, Dream Corner project by Rotaract Club of “Nairamdal”, Mongolia 2015, 2016.
· Voluntary and artist of Took part as an artist making the traditional cowhide vessel “Kökhüür” souvenir in registering the “Traditional technique of making Airag in Kökhüür and its associated customs including the traditional method of making Airag” in UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity, Ulaanbaatar, 2019
· Head of decoration artists “Mongolian Traditional “Naadam” festival “XIII Century”, Mongolia, 2020
· Media content creator, “Art and Human” project by Mongolian Art Council, Ulaanbaatar, 2020
· Coordinator of UB art festival, organized by the Government of Mongolia, Ministry of Culture, Ulaanbaatar 2021
· Voluntary and study experience of Mongolian culture days, organized by the Government of Mongolia, Ministry of Culture, Sweden and France, 2022
· Voluntary and study experience of the 59th Venice Biennale, Mongolia pavilion opening ceremony, A Journey Through Vulnerability by Munkhtsetseg Jalkhaajav, 2022
· Voluntary of the Ferenc Hopp Museum of Asiatic Art in Hungary celebrating the 120 th anniversary of the birth of Lajos Ligeti, one of the founders of Hungarian Oriental Studies, for a year, “Mongolian Yurts (ger) and Monasteries. Heritage and Culture of Mongolia” theme exhibition. They have also organized a series (International Children’s day, Night museum, Naadam festival of artists to promote Mongolian culture including calligraphy), Budapest 2022
· One of the colleagues of the Calligraphy performance from the Embassy of Mongolia in Budapest, Diplomatic Charity Fair 2022, organized under the patronage of Mrs. Szilvia Szijjart ó- Nagy, spouse of the Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade of the Republic of Hungary, Budapest, 27 November 2022
· Voluntary at Cagán Sar 2023 – Mongolian Lunar New Year Celebration event, organized by Hungarian-Mongolian Friendship Association, Budapest, 10 March 2023
Voluntary and pro bono projects
· Assistance of Mongolian texts and subtitles, 1242 – Gateway to the West movie project, internatonal co-production film, Hungary 2023
2010- 2020 – Teacher and hosting artist at different workshops of 12 national and international projects and fund raising events
2015 – 2016 – Painted and decorated 5 children’s rooms at Hospitals, “Dream corner” project by Rotaract Club of “Nairamdal”
2016 – 2019 – Donated own art works at 8 fund raising events
2018 – 2019 – Took part as an artist in 4 plain air projects
2018 – 2020 – Member of jury at 4 children’s art contests
2019 – Illustrated one of the illustrations to stories of “Incredible 50” inspirational stories book, “Women for Change” NGO
2019 – Took part as an artist making the traditional cowhide vessel “khokhuur” souvenir in registering the “ Traditional technique of making Airag in Khokhuur and its associated customs includes the traditional method of making airag” in UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity, Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia.
2020 – Head of decoration artists “Mongolian Traditional “NAADAM” festival “XIII Century”
2020 – Media content creator, “Art and Human” project by Mongolian Art Council
2022 The Hopp Ferenc Museum of Oriental Art in Hungary is celebrating the 120th anniversary of the birth of Lajos Ligeti, one of the founders of Hungarian Oriental Studies, for a year, “Mongolian Yurt (ger), Temple. “Heritage and Culture of Mongolia” theme exhibition is being organized. They have also organized a series /International Children’s day, Night museum, Naadam festival/ of events artist to promote Mongolian heritage, including calligraphy.
Honours and Awards
2005 – Gold Medal, Children’s Art and Creativity Centre of Mongolia
2010 – The Best Diploma Work Award, Mongolian State University of Culture and Art
2010 – The Best Presentation Award, Academic Conference, Mongolian State University of Culture and Art
2016 – 70th Anniversary Medal of The Fine Arts University
2017 – Young leader medal, Mongolian Youth Association
2017 – “The treasure ink Vajra” medal of His Highness Saint Bogd Zanabazar
2018 – The Best Art Work award, “Golden Autumn” plain air joint exhibition, “Ord” art gallery
2018 – The Best Presentation Award in “Cultural heritage”, Academic Conference,
Mongolian State University of Culture and Art
2020 – Leading Cultural Figure Medal, Government of Mongolia
2021- Labour of considered medal from Department of Mongolian President