About

Publications

Knowledge Database

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.

Silver belt

Leather, metal, stamping, carving, silver inlay, glass insert. A. Kasteev National Museum of Arts of the Republic of Kazakhstan

Silver belt

Kumis Beldik (silver belt). The item belongs to the category of belt ornaments and constitutes a complex decorative and structural element of the costume, combining the utilitarian function of fastening with a pronounced ornamental and status-symbol role. The belt is made on a leather base, along the entire length of which metal plates are affixed, forming a unified artistic field.The composition is structured according to the principle of linear rhythm, with an alternation of decorative elements of varying forms. The main field of the belt is organised as a sequence of rectangular segments, within which stylised ornamental motifs and rounded inserts are placed. The ends are decorated with enlarged plates, serving as fastenings and compositional finishes.The ornamental scheme combines geometric and stylised plant elements, arranged in a rhythmically ordered structure. The use of silver engraving against a darker metallic background creates a contrasting decorative effect. Glass inlays introduce an additional colour accent, enhancing the visual expressiveness of the piece.Technologically, the belt demonstrates the complex application of various processing techniques: stamping forms the basic configuration of the elements, engraving refines the ornamental details, and silver engraving provides a contrasting graphic solution.Overall, the piece reflects a tendency characteristic of the late tradition towards a more complex decorative structure of the belt, where the rhythmic organisation of the ornament and the combination of various materials, forming a cohesive artistic image, take on particular significance.