- Hello, I'm Beth MacMillan and welcome to ARTEFFECTS.

In our featured segment, we meet Turburam Sandagdorj of Reno.

Using black paper, sharp scissors, and a lot of patience and technique, this artist creates highly-detailed silhouettes.

Through his process, which he has perfected over 30 years, he celebrates his Mongolian heritage, his love for nature, and an appreciation for a simple lifestyle.

(classical acoustic guitar music) - My name, Turburam Sandagdorj.

I am a Mongolian American professional silhouette artist.

I create silhouettes called Tsagasun Baru.

Tsagasun Baru is the paper silhouette art in Mongolian.

My father influenced me as the artist.

In the college, I learned ceramics.

Ceramics is two-dimensional.

The ceramics and the papercuts is not different.

It's the same thing, it's the same feelings, just you using different tools and materials.

You need to grab the paper and scissors and start to cut.

It's very important in the silhouette, the tools, the scissors.

I try with using that aggressive tool into the fragile materials.

I using hot press paper.

It's very thin.

It's almost like silk and you just cut straight in the curve.

I always think about connection.

Without connection, all your lines collapse down.

I try to start to end just one image, one meaning, one feeling.

Sometimes you see this whole concept in your mind.

A lot of my art express the life of the nomads.

The nomadic lifestyle is very minimal.

The nomads love the nature.

That's my message.

I love the nature.

You see the open space and the sky like the blue, like the ocean.

In the night you see just the Milky Way, thousand stars, and you just connect.

Its talks with you.

I always simplify everything.

It's kind of minimal.

I just choose the minimal life for me, it works for me, and also expressing into my art.

I illustrated more than 40 books, mythology, the folk tales, poetry and history.

I love the history.

It's made me think about where I came from.

- [Announcer] Funding for ARTEFFECTS is made possible by Sandy Raffealli with Bill Pearce Motors.

Meg and Dillard Myers.

Heidemarie Rochlin.

In memory of Sue McDowell.

And by the annual contributions of PBS Reno Members.

(gentle music ends) (upbeat jazzy music)