Enkhgerel Byambadorj
I am photographer shaped by my past as a contortionist, where eerie, fluid movements first inspired my art. My journey through Japan and Seattle shaped my fascination with the strange and the sublime—I find beauty in the unsettling and inspiration in the unknown.
When I was five, my mother took me to a contortion studio, where I began an eleven-year journey of bending and twisting my body into art. That path continued until I entered Ōbu Japanese High School.
Growing up with two older brothers, I was always drawn to computers and cameras. They played PC games regularly and explored Photoshop at an early age, sparking my fascination. I was mesmerized by the magic of digital transformation—changing outfits, creating dreamlike visuals—so at eight, I began teaching myself both Photoshop and photography.
Life took a difficult turn with my mother’s passing, and I had to step away from contortion. But my passion for visual storytelling never wavered. I pursued high school in Japan, where I participated in my third photography exhibition. It was there that I made my decision—to devote myself fully to photography.
That choice led me to Seattle, where I pursued an art degree, refining my skills in Photoshop, InDesign, Illustrator, oil painting, 3D design, drawing, and most importantly, photography. By the time I graduated, I had worked as a layout editor for a literary magazine, sold photographs to my college, designed a three-foot-tall sculpture, collaborated on books and magazines, and won several district awards.
After returning to Mongolia, I faced setbacks—opening a studio didn’t go as planned. So, I adapted. I founded my own company and taught myself videography to create food videos. The journey was rocky, but each challenge shaped me.
Through it all, I have learned the language of art in its many forms—computers, photography, food, contortion, design, sculpture, drawing, and videography. Every step, every struggle, has deepened my love for creativity. And for that, I am grateful.