[Exhibition Tok Tok] The Fence That Shielded Us From the Harsh Winds of Life

Among the 83rd Overseas Visiting Group that came to Korea last year were two special guests: siblings D. Shijirmaa, a traditional Mongolian musician, and D. ShinetsogGeni, a morin khuur, or horsehead fiddle, performer, who are carrying on Mongolia’s traditional culture. As they toured the “Father’s True Heart” Exhibition and the “Our Mother” Writing and Photo Exhibition, they reflected on the love and sacrifice of their parents, which they had long treasured in their hearts. Here are the stories of the parents whose unwavering support helped their children become accomplished artists on stage.

#1 D. Shijirmaa

Every moment of my visit to Korea with my younger brother was meaningful and joyful, but one experience moved me especially deeply: visiting the Father Exhibition and the Mother Exhibition. I have visited many exhibitions before, but I had never seen one that touched my heart so profoundly. The exhibitions seemed to show just how completely parents are willing to devote themselves to their children. Having received abundant love from my parents, every piece of writing in the exhibitions resonated deeply with me.

My father and mother, who were both involved in the arts, raised my two siblings and me with great care. However, circumstances changed during the social upheavals of the 1990s. Determined to give their children a good education despite the uncertainty around them, my parents left behind stable jobs and familiar surroundings and decided to move to Ulaanbaatar, where they had no connections at all. Even through my young eyes, relocating the entire family to an unfamiliar city did not seem easy.

As expected, many hardships awaited us. The first challenge was simply finding a place to live. After arriving in Ulaanbaatar, we moved twelve times. Sometimes we were forced to leave because we could not afford the rent, and other times we had to relocate so my parents could find work. Only after skipping meals and wandering from place to place did I begin to understand the hardships my parents had endured, hardships I had never noticed when I had enough to eat.

Once, we found a home on the outskirts of the city. At the time, my parents worked near Sükhbaatar Square, a major public square in the heart of Ulaanbaatar, but it took a full three hours to walk home. After finishing work around midnight, my parents would always make the long journey back on foot despite their exhaustion. In Mongolia, there is a custom in which drivers offer rides to people traveling in the same direction and accept a small fee. One day, on their way home from work, a driver invited my parents into his car and quietly drove them all the way home without asking for anything in return. My parents still talk about that day. In such a difficult and demanding life, a stranger’s kindness, given without expectation of reward, must have been a great comfort to them.

Thanks to my parents’ quiet sacrifices, my brother and I were able to focus on our studies and learn the arts without worrying about tuition. As a result, I joined a major performing arts company and spent twelve years performing as both a dancer and a singer. I also received several awards for preserving and promoting traditional Mongolian culture.

While visiting the two exhibitions in Korea, I was reminded once again that everything I have accomplished is the result of my parents’ sacrifice. Parents live solely for their children. Their unconditional sacrifice and love make our lives more meaningful and precious.

Heavenly Father and Heavenly Mother also left behind all the glory of heaven and came to this earth to live solely for Their children. There are times when I forget this and become distracted by things that have no lasting value. Yet when I remember that the life of my soul came from Heavenly Father and Heavenly Mother, I realize that I cannot afford to live carelessly, even for a single day. I, as a child of God, will do my utmost to share the boundless love I have received from my Heavenly Parents.

#2 D. ShinetsogGeni

My parents, who were artists themselves, hoped that their children would follow the same path. They created an environment where we could devote ourselves entirely to the arts and learn from outstanding music and performances. I first learned the violin when I was about seven years old and later began playing the morin khuur, a traditional Mongolian instrument. Looking back, it was nearly impossible. At that time, most people struggled just to secure their next meal, and few families could afford the expense of arts education. Yet my parents willingly sacrificed their own comfort to open a brighter future for us. Although life must have been difficult and exhausting, I never once remember seeing them without a smile.

With my parents’ wholehearted support, I prepared for the entrance examination to an arts university. The admissions process at the time involved multiple rounds of testing until only about five candidates remained from the entire applicant pool. We had to pass a variety of practical examinations, such as memorizing and repeating complex rhythms and accurately identifying multiple pitches at once. Without my parents’ support, I might not have been able to endure that intense pressure. Thinking of how hard they had worked for me, I gave everything I had and proudly saw my name on the final list of successful applicants.

Even after being admitted to the university through fierce competition, I never neglected my practice. Every day, I spent ten hours playing my instrument until blisters formed on my hands. Whenever I felt tempted to become lazy, I thought of my parents’ sacrifice and dedication, and my determination was immediately renewed. My earnest desire to succeed as an artist and repay my parents for everything they had done became the driving force that eventually led me to become an Intangible Cultural Heritage artist.

One of the exhibits at the Father Exhibition featured a turntable and vinyl records that a father had given to his child. The father, who had a deep appreciation for music, gave them to his daughter, who shared the same love for music, saying, “If you’re going to listen to music, listen to it properly.” That display reminded me of my own childhood, when my parents made it possible for me to enjoy and learn from good music. It touched my heart deeply. Parents everywhere seem to share the same desire to let their children experience only the best and receive only the best.

Although I have come to Korea more than ten times for performances, this visit remains especially memorable because I was able to feel the love of both my physical parents and my Heavenly Parents. Going forward, I want to become an artist who makes both my parents and my Heavenly Parents proud. This is the only way I can repay the love of my parents, who shielded me from life’s harsh winds and allowed me to enjoy only the good things in life.

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