by Tilovalo

When I went to N.Duinkhar’s studio, noise of iron beating and melting metal was overwhelming. Many people feel uncomfortable in this setting, but for Duinkhar Namjildorj, one of the best blacksmiths of Mongolia, that noise inspires him. He graduated from the University of Fine Art in 2005. Since then, he has been teaching at the University of Fine Art and creating his artwork.

-Why did you choose to become a blacksmith?
-My ancestors were blacksmiths and this influenced me. When I was a boy, I always drew  on anywhere. After graduated from my high school in Dundgobi aimag, I came to Ulaanbaatar to become an artist. Fortunately, I met D.Enkhdavaa, a famous blacksmith. So I became his student. Recently, I work with my teacher and I’m very happy for that.

-Have you got any rules for making art?
-Mongolians say, a blacksmith has to become equal with hand, eye and spiritual mind.
But I am not the one who contains these abilities. I am still studying. Maybe life is a never-ending process for learning. I always try to choose the good way and to be a good man, because only a good person makes perfect art.
-Your artwork absorbs traditional culture and national form, doesn’t it?
- Ancient nomads believed that everything had a soul and people should respect that. They also believed it was important to speak in good terms about things so that good things will happen to you. In other words, Mongolians knew the Secret Rules. They believed that blacksmiths were on a mission from god and had the master’s hand and the master’s mind. Mongolians say, “blacksmiths have god’s mind,” because they described it in their own mind, they have therefore made a sculpture from god. Accordingly, smith work is among the Mongolian national arts. Craftsmen never make the same works. So, with Mongolian traditional furniture, accessories are unique.
-Tell our readers about your working progress.
-Every blacksmith is a painter. First of all, I draw a sketch of my new work. But before this I created the artwork inside myself or in my mind. It is very important for blacksmith to study history. For example I created Mongke Khan’s golden gerege (piazza) last year. This enabled the Mongol nobles and officials to demand goods and services from civilian populations. To attract foreign or overseas merchants and talents, the Great Khans gave them piazzas exempting taxes and allowed to use them as relay stations. However, Mongke Khan (1251–1259) limited notorious abuses and sent imperial investigators to supervise the business of the merchants who were sponsored by the Mongols. He prohibited them from using the imperial relay stations or “zam” (way) and pizzas. I read many history books and meet historians to learn how to make golden gerege. It is such an example of my working process. The whole world is touched by a globalization storm. It is known that the globalization brings us development, science and technology. In other hand, our nation’s inimitable culture, characteristics vanished a little bit year by year. Youths are more interested western culture than traditional customs, but there is a way of saving tradition and nation. I believe it is art. Especially, blacksmiths are guard of nomad’s valuable culture. In other words, my artworks are patriotic.