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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.

Ten, 1950. Zh. Yergaliyeva

1950. • ‘Sandyq qap’ Storage chest. Felt, fulling, embroidery and stitching • From the collection of the A. Kasteev National Museum of Arts of the Republic of Kazakhstan (247-b).

Ten, 1950. Zh. Yergaliyeva

The piece is crafted from thick, light-coloured felt, which serves as the perfect backdrop for the intricate decorative design. Artistic analysis reveals a distinctive stitching technique that not only compacts the material, lending the form additional rigidity, but also creates a barely perceptible raised pattern on the top cover. The front panel of the cover is adorned with elegant embroidery, dominated by archaic spiral motifs known as ‘irek’ (zigzag) and ‘muyiz’, arranged in strict geometric friezes. Particular attention is drawn to the composition of triangles pointing both upwards and downwards, which in folk cosmogony is often associated with mountains or the fertility of the earth. The fine outline embroidery in red thread is complemented by delicate touches of turquoise and terracotta in the form of small geometric shapes, lending the design a jeweller’s precision and rhythm.