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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.

Kise Beldik, Belt set, leather, metal (silver/alloy); embossing, casting, engraving, assemblyPhoto: A. Ibragimov, the artist’s studio

Mahmut Kulmanov

Кулманов Махмут. Кісе белдік, Поясной комплект, кожа, металл (серебро/сплав); тиснение, литьё, гравировка, сборка

This complex belt ensemble combines a system of leather straps, metal elements and functional pendants into a single spatial structure. The modular design allows individual components to interact with one another, forming an expansive composition that wraps around the body.The sculptural structure is built on a combination of linear strap elements and decorative metal accents. The leather straps form a distinctive framework, within which functional and ornamental components are placed. Metal plates fixed to the surface create a rhythmic system of repetitions, whilst the suspended elements enhance the sense of movement and spatial depth. The open nature of the composition lends the structure flexibility and allows it to adapt to the contours of the figure.The design language of the complex draws on the traditions of nomadic culture, where belt systems served utilitarian, status-symbol and decorative functions simultaneously. The suspended and auxiliary elements indicate the practical purpose of the piece, linked to the carrying of objects and the organisation of everyday space. Ornamental metal inserts further enhance the symbolic and visual significance of the structure.