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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.

Gravity, 2021. Oil on canvas. Source: www.ounce.group

Kuralay Umbetova

Умбетова Куралай. Гравитация, 2021 г. Холст, масло

The work is a visual exploration of the theme of emotional unity within a fragmented space. The central motif—a couple embracing—is deliberately deconstructed: the figures are broken down into geometric segments and shifted relative to one another. The artist seems to suggest that the gravitational force of love is not subject to the passage of time. Consequently, ‘Gravity’ is interpreted not as a physical phenomenon, but as a metaphor for emotional attraction.Stylistically, the work leans towards the principles of Cubism and Analytical Realism. A system of rectangular planes and geometric blocks creates a multidimensional structure of the image, in which space is perceived as a fluid and malleable category. The colour scheme is based on a combination of soft terracotta, blue, beige and cherry tones. Symbolically, an embrace serves as a sign of wholeness.