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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.

Ceramic dish. 18th–19th centuries. Kultobe settlement

18th–19th centuries. Kultobe settlement. Photo by E.S. Kazizova

Ceramic dish. 18th–19th centuries. Kultobe settlement

The inner surface of the piece features a consistent decorative motif in the form of small ‘star-shaped’ flowers, executed in a red-brown and green colour scheme. This ornament is referred to as ‘basma’. Researchers emphasise that this element, unlike many other ornamental motifs, retained its popularity in Central Asian ceramics right up to the present day.This colour scheme was a characteristic decorative technique of the craftsmen of that period and was likely linked to the traditional beliefs of the peoples of Central Asia regarding the symbolism of colour. Yellow-toned tableware was perceived as ‘impure’ and susceptible to the evil eye, whereas green, on the contrary, was associated with purity and protective properties.At the same time, the bowl in question differs significantly in its ornamental design from the canonical stylistic conventions of the region’s pottery.