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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.

Tuskiz, early 20th c.

1950. • Ten. Felt, felting, satin, appliqué • From the collection of the A. Kasteev National Museum of Arts of the Republic of Kazakhstan (236-b).

Tuskiz, early 20th c.

This artefact is a three-dimensional rectangular structure made of thick white felt. The design features appliqué and embroidery, with a contrasting red ornamentation set against a white background. The central feature of the decoration on the side panels is large compositions of horn-shaped scrolls — ‘muyiz’ — which are transformed here into complex tree-like structures resembling the ‘tree of life’, symbolising fertility and family continuity. The lid or top flap of the piece is decorated with a finer, intricate geometric and spiral pattern. Splashes of green and dark red in the fine details of the upper decoration enliven the austere two-tone colour scheme of the base.