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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.

Women’s belt

Kyzylorda Region. Plush, metal, carving, stamping, enamel. A. Kasteyev National Museum of Arts of the Republic of Kazakhstan

Әйел белдігі (женский пояс), декоративный

Women’s belt.This item belongs to the category of belt ornaments in women’s costume and is characterised by a pronounced decorative function whilst retaining its structural purpose. The belt is made on a soft textile base (plush), which distinguishes it from earlier leather counterparts and testifies to a transformation in materials during the later period.The composition is structured according to the principle of linear rhythm: a series of identical metal plates, featuring a characteristic curved, ‘teardrop-and-scroll’ shape, is arranged along the entire length of the belt. These elements are organised in a strict sequence, forming a frieze-like ornamental band. The ends are decorated with enlarged plates, serving as fastenings and compositional finishes.The ornamental scheme combines stylised plant motifs with elements of spiral-like plasticity, characteristic of Kazakh ornamentation. The use of enamel in the recesses of the pattern creates a colour accent and enhances the decorative expressiveness through contrast with the metal surface.Technologically, the piece demonstrates a complex metalworking process: stamping shapes the overlays, engraving refines the ornamentation, and enamelling introduces a colour element into the decorative structure.Overall, the belt reflects the distinctive features of the regional tradition of the Aral Sea region, where the role of the textile base and colour decoration is emphasised, and the ornamentation takes on a more fluid and decoratively rich character.