About

Publications

Knowledge Database

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.

Apple, 2024. Bronze. Almaty

Toktarbek Rakhyev

Токтарбек Рахиев. Яблоко, 2024 г. Бронза. Алматы

The natural image of the apple in the work is transformed into a symbolic spatial structure, where the recognisable form loses its object-like self-containment and becomes a sculptural framework. The outer contour retains an association with the fruit thanks to its soft, rounded lines, yet the main focus is on the inner space of the composition.The central element, reminiscent of a seed or embryo, organises the internal structure and shifts the image from the realm of natural representation into the realm of metaphor. The vertical axis of the stem and leaf sets the compositional axis, uniting all parts of the form and reinforcing the sense of growth and hidden internal movement.The bronze surface is constructed from a combination of polished and matt areas. Light, interacting with the smooth planes, makes the volume appear visually dynamic, whilst the recesses capture the shadow and emphasise the object’s spatial depth.The work takes on particular significance in the context of Almaty, where the image of the apple is linked to the city’s cultural and historical identity. At the same time, the artist avoids direct symbolic illustration, transforming the local motif into a universal symbol of the birth, renewal and continuity of life.The revealed form allows one to see the hidden inner content of the object, thanks to which the natural image takes on a philosophical resonance and is perceived as a metaphor for the life cycle and the potential for development.