Dashi Namdakov, Siberian artist6

1. 6 Dashi Namdakov, Siberian artist

2. 6 DashiNamdakov (born 1967) is a Russian sculptor, graphic artist and jeweler

3. Dashi Namdakov (1967), is a Russian sculptor, graphic artist and jeweler, graduated from the Krasnoyarsk Institute of Fine Arts, Member of the Russian Union of Artists. The monumental sculptures of Dashi Namdakov are incorporated into the landscapes of Kazakhstan (Astana), Mountain Shoriya (Kemerovo Region), Transbaikalia (Aginsk National District) and the Irkutsk region (Ust-Orda region). 2013 Awarded the Order of Mongolia "the Polar Star" for many years of fruitful work in the development of the Buryat-Mongolian cooperation in the field of culture and arts. In 2013 awarded the title of the main sculptor at the International Award Ceremony "Pietrasanta and Versilia in the World", Italy. The list of winners is an impressive collection of Italian and International sculptors. Fernando Botero, Igor Mitoraj, Marc Quinn also have been recipients of the prize  Dashi’s first solo show in a Siberian city of Irkutsk in 2000 became a sensation in the art world. The flawless plasticity and “jeweler’s” precision of his works have soon won the author the reputation of a leading Russian sculptor. The heritage of the Central Asian nomadic empire influences the author’s works. Nomads interacted with the terrestrial, celestial and underground worlds following common everlasting laws of transformation, death and miraculous revival. This sacral process is reflected in the dynamics of Dashi’s sculptural compositions.

4. Madonna with little bird

5. Madonna with little bird

6. Golden Shoria, 2010 Pietrasanta, Italy, exhibited August 2010Bronze; cast, patinated and gilded615 x 702 x 654 cm

7. Pietrasanta, Italy, exhibited August 2010 Golden Shoria (2010), a mythical female deity who is portrayed sitting astride an elk and lifting a cup of fire. This powerful yet delicate and immensely beautiful sculpture has been installed on Mount Shoria in southern Siberia. The design takes into account wind patterns and kinematics: the elk’s antlers move in the breeze, and the sculpture should withstand strong gales. It can be seen from afar and serves as a symbol of spiritual

8. Golden Shoria, 2010 Bronze; cast, patinated and gilded 615 x 702 x 654 cm The imposing sculptural group is placed atop an artificial mound which imitates a natural hill, at one with the uneven, mountainous terrain. It has very quickly become part of the landscape, blending harmoniously with the river embankment.

9. Namdakov uses the medium of monumental sculpture to convey something of what the people of Shoria feel about the majestic beauty of this ancient land.

10. Their beliefs are embodied in the figure of the area’s legendary forefather.

15. The mythical, totemic ancestor is represented by a mighty elk, an animal that was worshipped by the inhabitants of the taiga

16. Its wide-branching horns symbolise the long history of this protected region. Their flat surfaces are covered in carvings reminiscent of petroglyphs (rock-carvings) and ancient rock paintings, which either illustrate everyday life or represent sacred and magical symbols from prehistoric times that allude to the origins of the world.

19. Sitting astride the elk is a girl with a cup in her hands – an allegory of a heartfelt welcome or invitation as well as a symbol of the links between the present life of Golden Shoria and its distant past.

20. The sacred vessel contains ‘eternal fire’, fuelled by natural gas, which lights up the golden decoration of the girl’s dress with glinting reflections.

28. Genghis Khan, 2011Marble Arch, London, installed 2012Bronze; cast and patinated471 x 465 x 585 cmEdition of 3

30. Unveiling of Genghis Khan‘s sculpture by Dashi Namdakov on 14 April 2012 at Marble Arch in London, UK. The sculpture stood in central London for over two years and has recently been moved. Sources say that the sculpture of the Great Khaan is in the process of being relocated to Ulaanbaatar, the capital city of Mongolia.

32. The location has been chosen to allow thousands of Londoners and visitors the chance to view Genghis Khan as they pass through one of London’s busiest junctions. The spectacular bronze statue rises to almost five metres from hoof to helmet and features the great Mongolian leader descending from heaven on horseback. Genghis Khan is placed next to Cumberland Gate, Marble Arch, against the beautiful backdrop of Hyde Park.

33. This majestic equestrian statue shows a rider wearing medieval Mongolian armour, with arms outstretched, lost in deep contemplation. His erect posture, powerful body and the self-confidence exuded by the whole heroic image suggest a sense of dignity, spiritual strength and a life both long and hard.

34. The warrior’s proud steed is standing still, its head held low, while the wind plays with its streaming mane.

35. The location has been chosen to allow thousands of Londoners and visitors the chance to view Genghis Khan as they pass through one of London’s busiest junctions.

37. Despite the wealth of decorative detail (golden plaques on the livery, scenes of hunting beasts shown in relief, the special ‘antique’ patina of the plaited hair), this is a powerful and consistent image of the ancient hero of the Mongols who has become part of global civilization.

38. The horse seems like a throne supporting a divine being

41. Namdakov has a special reverence for his subject. What he offers is a new interpretation of a man whose life was full of terror and valour, which has become an epic hero and has been deified by his descendants.

42. Onlookers are presented with the classic epic situation: facing a difficult choice, horse and rider pause at the very brink of an invisible chasm – the edge of the sky they are about to leave in order to descend to the human world. This evokes associations with the story of Geser, the great hero of the Buryat and Mongol epic

44. Halcyon Gallery London

45. Genghis Khan, 2011Bronze; cast and patinated243 x 260 x 180 cmEdition of 6 plus 2 artist’s proof

46. Halcyon Gallery London 2013

48. The subject of Genghis Khan, as the artist confesses, is a sacred taboo for Buryats which ‘he did not want to violate’, but Namdakov was inexorably drawn to the great epic hero of the Mongolian people. It is no coincidence that he agreed to become the production designer of the film Mongol, directed by Sergey Bodrov, Sr, and released in September 2007, which was based on Genghis Khan’s life story. There was a mystical twist to its making: a shaman’s blessing was sought and duly received before the start of filming. Maybe this is what ensured the film’s success? On screen, the artist has managed to capture distinctive images of Mongol life and warriors riding over the steppes, as foreshadowed in his ‘Mongol’ series of graphic artworks (2006). The same can be said of the cover shots – wide sweeps of landscape that evoke atmosphere, time and place. Weapons and armour worn by the main characters were actually forged in Namdakov’s own workshop.

49. The film’s depiction of the warrior culture of the Mongols turned out to be compelling, with battle scenes and shots of galloping horsemen that were truly breathtaking. The artist’s work as production designer was highly acclaimed: in 2007, the film received an Academy Award nomination in the United States of America and Namdakov won the Russian Academy of Cinematographic Arts’ Nika Award. 2013 Awarded the Order of Mongolia "the Polar Star" for many years of fruitful work in the development of the Buryat-Mongolian cooperation in the field of culture and arts. Mongolian President Awards Buryat Sculptor with High State Award of Mongolia

50. Text and pictures: Internet Copyright: All the images belong to their authors Presentation: Sanda Foişoreanu https://www.slideshare.net/michaelasanda https://ma-planete.com/michaelasanda 2014 Sound:Altai-Kai - Tuva (In memory of KülTegin)