Batmanlai Narankhuu↓

About the work

We Are What We Have

In my current work, I began to address the power of consumption and its impact on the human self. I have produced large-dimensional paintings, which were once inhabited with specific figures but now, it is collages composed of models and mannequins overwhelmed by property. I did not want to portray particular individuals, since the world of consumption controls us all regardless of race, and affects us as a whole. The more the world is flooded by new trends, the emptier we feel and the more we crave to fill this emptiness with a new phone, new clothes, a new car, and so on. But consumption and the desire for material enrichment, due to which most of us feel wealthier, destroy our souls and we, unconsciously, become nothing but what we have.

While my above-mentioned paintings aimed at portraying the human soul from the outside, my earlier works tried to capture the inner chaos. The latter are abstract works executed with the help of a roller, and may have the same effect as optical illusions. It all started when I became interested in clothing patterns which, in my view, could allow me to immerse deeper into the subject of inner chaos. However, I illustrate the effect of chaos via a technique that has its intrinsic order. The repetitive trail continues until it finally forms a larger whole.

However, my work does not want to moralize, since I myself am part of a larger whole of the world of consumerism. But I can say, like many, that I am at least aware of this power. My paintings can inspire viewers in many ways. Some may find it colorful or amusing, and some perhaps do not get the idea I am writing about here. I have never put symbols and specific scenes in the first place; they rather illustrate my inner feelings. I have mainly chosen this topic because I enjoy the world of fashion and, in a way, enjoy following it. Nevertheless, getting immersed in this topic entails realizing the issues.