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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.

Kulpytas (gravestone)

The Esky Zharly necropolis. Baiganin District, Aktobe Region. From the article by S. Azhigali. Kazakh kulpytas – analogues of Yakut serge: distribution, typology, genesis // North-Eastern Humanities Bulletin. 2023. No. 4(45). pp. 20–36.

Гигантский кулпытас конца XIX – начала ХХ вв.

According to S. Azhigali, the kulpytas of Western Kazakhstan are executed in a style that traces its origins to the traditions of wood carving. Their prototypes were wooden posts, which is reflected in their elongated proportions, the nature of the ornamentation and the principles of compositional division. The prevalence in the region of soft, easily workable limestone varieties facilitated the transfer of these forms to stone and their widespread use in the form of carved stelae.Vertical gravestones, richly decorated with carved ornamentation, lapidary inscriptions and pictorial elements, represent an important source of historical and cultural information. They not only record details about the deceased but also reflect worldviews, religious beliefs, social status, clan affiliation, as well as the artistic traditions and craftsmanship of the masters of their time. The ornamental motifs and epigraphy of the kulpytas allow us to trace the evolution of aesthetic preferences and regional characteristics, as well as to identify the mutual influence of nomadic and sedentary cultures in Western Kazakhstan.