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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.

‘Daughter of the Steppe’. Felt. 2015, Source: https://businessfm.kz

Aitkaliev Kami

Айткалиев Ками. «Дочь степи». Войлок. 2015

Kami Aitkalieva’s panel ‘Daughter of the Steppe’ is a striking example of neo-nomadic art, in which traditional forms of Kazakh art are given a contemporary artistic interpretation. The artist has succeeded in achieving a complex visual synthesis: preserving the material and symbolic memory of traditional felt, whilst simultaneously endowing it with new expressive possibilities characteristic of modernist and contemporary art.The artist goes beyond the confines of the classical two-dimensional approach, creating the effect of a distinctive ‘three-dimensional textile’. The central figure of the composition is a young woman riding a two-humped camel. This image embodies the idea of steppe freedom, strength and inner dignity. The figure of a Tazy greyhound running swiftly alongside adds further rhythm to the composition. The composition of the panel is centred, yet it is far from static thanks to the dynamic plasticity of its forms and lines. The panel vividly demonstrates the potential for reinterpreting traditional felt art, preserving its cultural identity whilst simultaneously opening new artistic horizons.