Ulaanbaatar
'Origin': A Photographer’s Tribute to Endangered Languages
Art & Culture
Ulaanbaatar, September 17, 2025 /MONTSAME/. A solo exhibition titled “Origin” by U.S.-based photographer and contemporary artist Anja Brown, also known by her Mongolian name Oyunsuren Shagdarsuren, has opened at the Norpei Art Gallery, Ulaanbaatar.
The
exhibition, organized by the photography agency Gamma,
showcases around 40 of the artist’s works.
Speaking
about the inspiration behind the exhibition, Oyunsuren explained, “According to
research, during the 1950s–1960s, people around the world communicated using
6,000 to 7,000 languages. However, due to factors such as geopolitical
imbalance, economic crises, globalization, technological advancement, and war,
around 30 languages disappear each year. If this
trend continues, UNESCO estimates that by 2050,
only about 2,000 languages will remain in use. The
Buryat language has already been listed in the UNESCO
Red Book of Endangered Languages, and Mongolian is also
considered at risk of extinction due to its relatively small number of speakers.
The idea that culture cannot exist without language struck me deeply. So, I
chose to incorporate that idea into my work — using the symbol of a cow’s
tongue to express the urgency of protecting our mother tongue before it
disappears.”
Her presentation attracted attention for its unique use of framing and symbolism — each photograph is framed, locked with a traditional Mongolian lock, and decorated with a yellow khadag. This artistic choice symbolizes the wish that “our Mongolian language — with all its beauty and melody — will be safeguarded by our strong cultural heritage and passed on to future generations.”
Artist Oyunsuren currently lives and works in Houston, USA, and launched the exhibition virtually. The exhibition will be on view until September 22, 2025.
