Article In-Part By: Alex Thomas from the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette
Photo Courtesy: Arkansas Democrat-Gazette/Alex Thomas
Aspen Enkhmandakh has her mom to thank for her interest in art.
Enkhmandakh can recall one of her first pieces as a first-grader, a Mother's Day gift showing her mom in front of a sunset. Enkhmandakh, now 16, has made it an annual priority to redraw the picture, simultaneously showcasing her artistic growth.
"That was the moment where I was like, 'I wanted to do this,'" Enkhmandakh said about the original piece.
Enkhmandakh also has her mom, Narantuya Purevochir, to thank for pushing her to submit a more recent piece to this year's annual Congressional Art Competition.
According to Enkhmandakh, a daughter of one of Purevochir's friends won the contest years prior. As Enkhmandakh developed an art portfolio through her art courses at Little Rock Central High School, Purevochir never forgot the contest.
"I think my mom always had it in the back of her mind, (and) just wanted me to grow up a little and improve my art a little better," joked Enkhmandakh, who will enter her senior year in the fall. "We both realized it was due in a few weeks, so I had to really rush and figure it out."
Any sign of a scramble wasn't evident in Enkhmandakh's submission, "Clock of Life," in colored pencil on paper. The art is now displayed with hundreds of other pieces in the underground hallway of the U.S. Capitol as top entries in this year's Congressional Arts Competition.
The nonpartisan Congressional Institute sponsors the competition in which high school students from each U.S. House of Representatives district are recognized for their artistic talent. Since the contest's first year in 1982, more than 650,000 students have participated in the nationwide contest with winning entries judged by local panels.
The artwork -- which includes paintings, collages, photographs and mixed media pieces -- will be displayed in the U.S. Capitol's underground Cannon Tunnel for the next year.
Enkhmandakh and three other Arkansas teenagers traveled to the U.S. Capitol ahead of Congress' one-week Independence Day holiday to meet other artists and celebrate the accomplishment. "Clock of Life" represents Arkansas' 2nd Congressional District in the exhibit.
"Clock of Life," according to the artist, was inspired by her art assignments concentrated on 2D art and design. The drawing depicts different phases of Enkhmandakh's life with versions of herself lying on the face of a clock, starting with a portrayal of her as a baby and ending at the present day.
"My theme for that class was about memories and how time affects looking at my memories, so stuff like nostalgia," she said. "It's like me, I guess, trapping bits of myself -- like memories -- on this clock and showcasing how I've grown and the different stages of my life."
Enkhmandakh wants to pursue an art career with graphic design.
"The clock is really ticking," she said, acknowledging "Clock of Life."
For the time being, Enkhmandakh has some immediate goals she needs to address. That to-do list includes completing this year's Mother's Day piece.
"I haven't done it yet because I've been busy," she said, laughing. "But it's on the way."