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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.

Beaver Belt, 2022, silver, carnelian, turquoise, leather; filigree, granulation, blackening, embossing. National Museum of the Republic of Kazakhstan

Berik Alibay

Алибай Берик. Бобровый пояс, 2022, серебро, сердолик, бирюза, кожа; скань, зернь, чернение, тиснение. Национальный музей Республики Казахстан

This men’s belt combines a leather base with a solid metal buckle, which serves as the piece’s main compositional focal point. The contrast between the flexible strap and the decorative block creates a striking yet functional design.The central buckle is constructed according to the principle of a symmetrical ornamental composition with a clearly defined centre. The surface is richly decorated with intricate designs executed using the scania and granulation techniques, incorporating inlays of turquoise and carnelian. The ornamentation radiates from the centre towards the edges, creating an effect of radial movement and reinforcing the visual unity of the form. The embossed decoration on the leather base supports the overall rhythm of the composition and unites the metal and leather elements into a single system.In traditional culture, the belt is associated with notions of status, maturity and masculine identity. In this case, the buckle serves as a symbolic centre, concentrating the main decorative and symbolic significance. Turquoise and carnelian retain the protective meanings characteristic of the Kazakh jewellery tradition, whilst the ornamental structure reflects ideas of stability, order and harmony.While preserving the canonical typology of the men’s belt, the artist enhances its artistic expressiveness and sculptural richness. As a result, the piece is perceived as a fusion of craft tradition and a contemporary artistic approach within the context of modern jewellery art.