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Traditional and contemporary art of Kazakhstan

A Virtual Journey into the World of Kazakhstan’s Artistic Heritage

This Web Gallery presents the diversity of artistic practices in Kazakhstan, reflecting the continuity of cultural traditions and the dynamic development of contemporary creative processes. The virtual exhibition features works based on national images, symbols, and themes, as well as artworks by contemporary artists who reinterpret the country’s cultural heritage through contemporary artistic forms, expressive means, and modern technologies.

The selected works demonstrate the relationship between traditional and contemporary art, revealing the distinctive features of the national worldview, cultural identity, and cultural meanings. The presented materials allow viewers to trace how elements of historical and cultural heritage are reflected in contemporary artistic practice, while maintaining their significance and relevance in an increasingly globalized world.

The Web Gallery is aimed at promoting Kazakhstan’s artistic heritage, expanding public access to works of art, and fostering a lasting interest in national culture and art among a wide audience.

Toshela

Collection of the East Kazakhstan Regional Architectural, Ethnographic and Natural Landscape Museum-Reserve

Toshela

One form of settled dwelling among the Kazakhs was a yurt-like structure. In Eastern Kazakhstan, it was called a toshala; here, this form was long preserved as part of a complex of winter buildings, but in the second half of the 19th century, it was mainly used as a kitchen and storeroom.The walls of the toshala were built from layers of turf, wattle and daub, or stacked stone. A hole was left at the top in the centre and covered with a felt blanket.The toshala is an example of the transformation of a traditional architectural form, in which, whilst retaining the main features of the yurt, it is adapted to the conditions of a settled way of life.