33/ Myna Song

2019
By Tuguldur Yondonjamts
Duration: 4:23 min.

How does this work investigate “hope?”
“The major part of my art practice is focused on translating in broader way. In this specific work, the Mongolian ancient poem describes a different way of positioning the protagonists and it focuses the importance of animal language. This significant part is crucial for being of part of our world.” —Tuguldur Yondonjamts

About the work:
“The work consist out of two parallel audio files. In one, artist reads words from Khan Kharangui poem related to mountains, direction, numbers and colors in order to separate the geography out of the poem. In the other file, wind, wolf and dog howling sounds were edited into spots where different mountains appear in the poem. Both audio files have been emerged into single one and its speed was increased to 9 times. Time perception of different living beings have been aimed in this project. Common Myna bird is described in the poem as a time traveler carrying poison for main protagonists. That bird is native to India and its presence in the poem gives some hint of connectivity of cultures in previous times. The video footage shows a temporary used an artificial falcon nest in the east south Mongolia.

Khan Kharangui poem is a well-known epic in Mongolia. It tells the story of a protagonist whose name can be translated as the Darkest Dark (artist translation) and his home country is located in 99 years of travel distance. The protagonist travels with his brother to his beloved princess who can predict the events of the coming three days and who’s face shines light to any direction that she directs. And there is a son of the heaven, the competitor of Darkest Dark and whose home country is located in thirty-third layer of sky. The protagonist goes through different challenges and competitions and takes the princess to his far country. The jealous son of the heaven takes several revenges on the protagonist.  At the very end of an epic the protagonist, his brother and their joint friend will be given names of Insects by protagonist’s father.” —Tuguldur Yondonjamts