You may have seen recent reports on the ABC about a remarkable series of artworks in the form of ten murals scattered about the South Gippsland town of Yarram.
Mozzies, Mutton, and Milk.
You may have seen recent reports on the ABC about a remarkable series of artworks in the form of ten murals scattered about the South Gippsland town of Yarram. Mongolian artist Khürelbaataryn Khosnaran, otherwise known as Heesco, has produced them this year in a creative burst of only five weeks. The story was even broadcast in Mongolia, highlighting an unexpected Australian connection to this historic country. Some Mongolian people there are even labelled “Mozzies.” They have generally studied in Australia and returned home to help build their community. Modern Mongolia was born in 1990 after voting to break away from the Soviet Union.
Heesco still regularly returns to his ancestral home to paint murals there, and around the world, but we are particularly fortunate to have his art based in Melbourne, and now in Yarram. The Mozzies are part of Australia’s diplomatic efforts to support Australian interests in the Oyu Tolgoi mine in the Gobi Desert, which is an offshoot of Rio Tinto and very similar to Olympic Dam in South Australia. The landscapes of the South Australian Outback and the Gobi Desert are ethereally similar.
Heesco’s art often promotes a Just Society, with notable previous works highlighting the issues of human rights, air pollution in Ulaanbaatar, and refugees. The Yarram murals reflect these values as well as the Mongolian cultural traits of love for the countryside, grassland, herds of animals and herders. Even the Alberton Pub got a mural with barrels of beer, which brings back memories of Golden Gobis, Sengurs, Borgios and other good brews from the Steppe I sampled while living and working in Mongolia several years ago.
Mongolian traditional food is often derived from mutton or milk, so perhaps it is only a matter of time before we see traditional Gers (a traditional portable, round tent dwelling) dotting the landscape of South Gippsland? Looking over the livestock-dotted grass of the Yanakie red swamp to the dunes of the Big Drift conjures up images of an ancient empire far away. One Australian tradition finding its way to Mongolia (besides mining) is cricket. The Mongolian Cricket Association is currently building its second dedicated cricket ground in a regional town outside of Ulaanbaatar to help many disadvantaged Mongolian children. In 2019 they sent a young Mongolian school teacher to Australia to develop his cricket coaching skills. He spent time in Yanakie and we also met with Heesco in Melbourne (for a welcomed chat in Mongolian).
As the Covid lockdown eases, we can all think about a visit to Yarram to enjoy Heesco’s contribution to the culture and values of our part of the world and remind ourselves of love for people, land and countryside. Bayartai (good bye).
Mike Borgas Yanakie
Printed from justcommunitysg.com with permission
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