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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.

‘Quryltay’, 2023 Photograph by Zh. N. Shaygozova

Abylkhai Asel

Абылхай Асель. «Құрылтай», 2023 г. Фотография Шайгозовой Ж. Н.

The work is organised according to the principle of a mandala composition. At the centre is a richly ornamented circle, which can be interpreted as an image of the communal table – the universal centre of the universe in the traditional Kazakh worldview. This central element acts as the semantic core of the composition, around which the figures are arranged in a circular pattern, forming a model of collective unity and balance.The circular structure of the composition corresponds directly to the idea of the kurultai—a traditional institution of public assembly among nomadic peoples, where every participant has an equal voice and significance. The visual organisation of the scene becomes a metaphor for dialogue, harmony and collective decision-making, reflecting the principles of steppe democracy.The work’s colour scheme plays a key role in shaping its semantic field. Terracotta and ochre shades evoke the image of the earth, traditional way of life and the material foundations of existence, whilst golden accents emphasise the sacred nature of the central circle and its connection to the idea of the sun as a source of energy and order. The blue colour introduced into the composition symbolises the open sky, peace and spiritual clarity, thereby creating a balance between the earthly and heavenly principles.