Pushing artistic boundaries: Ulaanbaatar Biennale 2025 inspires!

Pushing artistic boundaries: Ulaanbaatar Biennale 2025 inspires!

Katja Brinkmann, a Berlin artist, significantly promoted cultural relations between Germany and the Central Asian country with her inspiring trip to Mongolia. Taken out of a former comfort zone, she initiated an impressive connection between artists from both countries. After several visits to Mongolia, where she discovered the local art scene, she became an expert on art in public spaces. This expertise led Susanne Jakob, the director of the Neuhausen Art Association, on an important trip to Mongolia last autumn to deal with the conditions on site. The art association is now planning an exhibition that will be curated by Brinkmann and will present both Mongolian and German artists in Neuhausen in the form of 100 works each. The opening of the exhibition will welcome the Mongolian ambassador and a prominent Mongolian rock singer, who made an unannounced appearance.

Brinkmann, who was born in Westphalia and studied in Stuttgart, made her first contacts with Mongolian culture in 2013. Her in-depth experiences are also shaped by her language skills and teaching at the Ulaanbaatar Art School, where she taught for three years. In 2021 she was appointed honorary professor at the university. In her conversations and projects, she not only remains connected to the artists, but is also committed to creating meeting spaces that are still missing in Ulaanbaatar.

Ulaanbaatar Biennale 2025

The upcoming Ulaanbaatar Biennale 2025, organized by the city mayor in collaboration with the city's Arts and Culture Department and the Arts Council of Mongolia (ACM), provides an excellent platform to further strengthen these cultural connections. The Biennale will take place from June 6th to 20th, 2025 and receives support from numerous institutions, including the Blue Sun Contemporary Art Center.

Ulaanbaatar became a member of the UNESCO Creative Cities Network in 2023, which connects 355 cities in over 90 countries to promote local art and culture globally. This biennale will focus on media and visual art, taking into account the needs of urban residents in the areas of spirituality, aesthetics and history. Various programs are planned as part of the Biennale, including international exhibitions, stage and outdoor events as well as workshops, which will appeal to a wide target group.

“On the Horizon, Under the Moon” is the motto of the Biennale, led by Chief Curator Tian Zhang from Sydney. This event aims not only to highlight artistic abilities, but also to contribute to the development of cultural tourism in Ulaanbaatar and strengthen the importance of the city's cultural identity.