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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.

Quraq. Made in Kazakhstan. Tapestry. 2014. Wool, acrylic, silk, hand-woven. Source: https://nomadmgz.kz

Malik Mukanov

Муканов Малик. Kurak. Made in Kazakhstan. Гобелен. 2014. Шерсть, акрил, шелк, ручное ткачество

The work is based on the synthesis of two sign systems — traditional ornamentation and the barcode — which transforms the decorative composition into a complex cultural statement on national identity in the age of mass consumption.The central semiotic element of the work is the barcode – a universal symbol of commodity circulation, standardisation and the global economy. In the contemporary visual landscape, it designates an object as a market product, subject to identification and commercial circulation. The artist contrasts this symbol with the traditional ornamental motif of the qoshqar muiz and the structure of the quraq korpe, historically linked to ideas of family memory, generational continuity and a respectful attitude towards materials. The result is a dialogue between cultural heritage and the mechanisms of the modern global system.Of particular significance is the inscription ‘MADE IN KAZAKHSTAN’, which, in this context, ceases to be a mere indication of the product’s origin. It becomes a declaration of cultural identity and a symbol of the affirmation of the national artistic code on the international stage.