The series title “Hero City,” makes reference to the chosen name for the urban center before pressure from soviet activists led to the renaming of the city as it is known today, Ulaanbaatar (city of the Red Hero).

Mongolia has a unique and storied history, most recently marked by its transition from communism to democracy following the fall of the Soviet Union. This transition was guided by international agencies such as the International Monetary Fund, the World Band, and the Asian Development Fund, but the nation’s swift entry into a purely market economy has brought many challenges for its citizens, in spite of optimism from outside economists and organizations such Citigroup which view and label the country as a “global growth generating” nation. Accordingly, Mongolia offers a prescient look at the disconnect between prescriptive policies and the cultural and political realities that limit their success.

My images seek to capture these tensions, while at the same time drawing attention to the rich and thriving culture that animates this young Asian nation.