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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.

Korkyt, 2010, Oil on canvas. From the artist’s personal archive

Orazbek Esenbaev

Оразбек Есенбаев. Коркыт, 2010 г., Холст, масло. Из личного архива художника

The work is executed in a conventional-metaphorical style. The central figure is the legendary Korkyt, playing the kobyz. Surrounding him are figures of balbals. The colour scheme is based on a cool palette: grey-blue, greenish and silvery tones predominate. This palette creates an atmosphere of concentration and inner reflection. The light falling from above highlights the figure of the musician and becomes a key compositional accent, as if symbolising inspiration, a flash of insight, or a spiritual connection with higher powers. The composition is vertical, and the figures are elongated and stylised, bringing the work closer to the traditions of Modernism and Symbolism. The artist deliberately avoids realistic detail, focusing instead on the plasticity of forms and the expressiveness of silhouettes. The cracked texture of the surface is reminiscent of an ancient fresco or stone carving, creating a sense of timelessness and eternity in the images.