100 Words: Mongolia In Flux

By Michele Palazzi

Published April 24, 2013 at 6:00 AM EDT

1 of 16 — Hovorerden plays with his sister during a sandstorm. Mongolia, Gobi, Omongovi, 2012.

Hovorerden plays with his sister during a sandstorm. Mongolia, Gobi, Omongovi, 2012.

2 of 16 — A nomad family loads their tent and belongings onto a jeep as it is about to leave. Mongolia, Gobi, Omongovi, 2012.

A nomad family loads their tent and belongings onto a jeep as it is about to leave. Mongolia, Gobi, Omongovi, 2012.

The <em>ger</em> where the nomad family lives. Mongolia, Gobi, Omongovi, 2012.

3 of 16 — The ger where the nomad family lives. Mongolia, Gobi, Omongovi, 2012.

The ger where the nomad family lives. Mongolia, Gobi, Omongovi, 2012.

4 of 16 — Tuvshinbayar ties up his horses to prevent them from escaping during a storm. Mongolia, Gobi, Omongovi, 2012.

Tuvshinbayar ties up his horses to prevent them from escaping during a storm. Mongolia, Gobi, Omongovi, 2012.

5 of 16 — A woman walks in an outpost for coal delivery at the border with China. Mongolia, Gobi, White Mountain outpost, 2013.

A woman walks in an outpost for coal delivery at the border with China. Mongolia, Gobi, White Mountain outpost, 2013.

6 of 16 — Tuvshinbayar milks camels before night. Mongolia, Gobi, Omongov, 2013.

Tuvshinbayar milks camels before night. Mongolia, Gobi, Omongov, 2013.

7 of 16 — Tuvshinbayar sleeps with his son, Tuyshintugs, after a morning working with his camels. Mongolia, Gobi, Omongov, 2012.

Tuvshinbayar sleeps with his son, Tuyshintugs, after a morning working with his camels. Mongolia, Gobi, Omongov, 2012.

8 of 16 — A waitress works at the Broadway restaurant, the only restaurant for foreigners in the district. Mongolia, Gobi, Tsogttsetsii sum, 2012.

A waitress works at the Broadway restaurant, the only restaurant for foreigners in the district. Mongolia, Gobi, Tsogttsetsii sum, 2012.

9 of 16 — A Mongolian singer performs at a party organized by the Mobicom cellphone company. Mongolia, Gobi, Dalanzadgad, 2013.

A Mongolian singer performs at a party organized by the Mobicom cellphone company. Mongolia, Gobi, Dalanzadgad, 2013.

10 of 16 — Munkhdul rests while drinking camel milk tea. Mongolia, Gobi, Omongovi, 2012.

Munkhdul rests while drinking camel milk tea. Mongolia, Gobi, Omongovi, 2012.

11 of 16 — Young boys play in the only public place in the village — the basketball field of the public school. Mongolia, Gobi, Tsogttsestii sum, 2012.

Young boys play in the only public place in the village — the basketball field of the public school. Mongolia, Gobi, Tsogttsestii sum, 2012.

12 of 16 — Tuvshinbayar and his wife tie up a camel to kill him and sell the meat. Mongolia, Gobi, Omongovi, 2013.

Tuvshinbayar and his wife tie up a camel to kill him and sell the meat. Mongolia, Gobi, Omongovi, 2013.

13 of 16 — Saikhana wrestles with one of his friends. Mongolia, Gobi, Tsogttsetsii sum, 2012.

Saikhana wrestles with one of his friends. Mongolia, Gobi, Tsogttsetsii sum, 2012.

14 of 16 — Tuvshinbayar with his children during a sandstorm. Mongolia, Gobi, Omongovi, 2012.

Tuvshinbayar with his children during a sandstorm. Mongolia, Gobi, Omongovi, 2012.

15 of 16 — A police detective eats in the police department canteen. Mongolia, Gobi, Dalanzadgad, 2013.

A police detective eats in the police department canteen. Mongolia, Gobi, Dalanzadgad, 2013.

16 of 16 — In the Tsogttsetsii district, there is only one paved street; the other streets are unpaved and there is always dust. Mongolia, Gobi, Tsogttsetsii sum, 2012.

In the Tsogttsetsii district, there is only one paved street; the other streets are unpaved and there is always dust. Mongolia, Gobi, Tsogttsetsii sum, 2012.

This project was born from an interest in documenting the transformation of Asia in recent decades.

The photographs in this series focus on Mongolia, where economic development is hitting the nomad populations living in the desert, changing millennia-old landscapes and traditions. It is an undefined border zone between centurylong traditions contaminated by a modernity that is still very far from progressive.

The purpose, through my experience, is to contribute to the preservation of this moment of cultural shift.

Michele Palazzi was born in Rome in 1984. Since 2011 he has been working on a multimedia project titled Migrant Workers Journey. He has exhibited his work at the New Mexico Museum of Art and at the Fotoleggendo festival in Rome. You can find more of his work on his website and on FotoVisura.

100 Words is a series in which photographers describe their work, in their own words. Curated by Graham Letorney

Curator's Note:
This young photographer brings all of our senses to Mongolia, portraying a country in economic and cultural flux. To view these images we cannot avoid the raw elements, the harsh sun, the endless permafrost. A closer look affords a glimpse into the tension between solitary days on this rugged, open land, and the lonely and muted atmosphere of modern entrapments. And yet the spirit of family, friendship and self-reliance are universally present throughout.