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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.

Tagara with a three-colored pattern. 18th–19th centuries. Kultobe settlement

18th–19th centuries. Kultobe settlement. Photo by E.S. Kazizova

Tagara with a three-colored pattern. 18th–19th centuries. Kultobe settlement

A ceramic tagara, covered in yellow glaze with a three-colour painted design, dates from the 18th–19th centuries. The object measures 42 cm in diameter and 15.1 cm in height. It was discovered at one of the sites of the Kultobe settlement, interpreted as a zikr-khana (17th–18th centuries) — a room for the spiritual and religious practices of the Sufi community.Despite a certain coarseness of form, the vessel is distinguished by its originality. The polychrome painting beneath the transparent lemon-yellow glaze is characterised by the richness and expressiveness of the brushstrokes: drips, S-shaped marks, short lines, M-shaped forms, and zigzags. Their combination forms a distinctive composition.Colour enhanced the artistic expressiveness and served a symbolic function. The predominance of yellow is likely linked to the Sufi tradition (zakhir-batin), where it corresponds to the second stage of the path (tarikat) and the symbolism of the sun as divine radiance.