Bayanzag: A Way in the Wilderness Painting

With torrid colours and textured strokes, the artist depicts the parched and tortured landscape of the remote and legendary Flaming Cliffs, so named for their fiery blaze in the setting sun. This where dinosaur egg fossils, as well as bones of a protoceratops and velociraptor locked in mortal combat have been found. At first this area seems hostile and devoid of life — yet, the Mongolian name Bayanzag means “rich in saxaul”, a rare plant that not only survives the Gobi’s extreme heat, cold and aridity, but also provides sustenance for wild Bactrian camels passing though. Despite the shimmering heat, pockets of cool colour hint at the relief to come when the glare of day dissolves into velvety night.