Large-scale exhibition of Kazakhstani contemporary art opened in South Korea

29 November, 2018 10:18

On November 27, the National Museum of Kazakhstan has opened the “Eurasian Utopia: Post Scriptum” exhibition at the SIMA Museum of Contemporary Art (South Korea, Suwon). The exhibition was organized in collaboration with the SIMA Museum. The exhibition is presenting more than 100 works of 57 artists of the Soviet period and modern times. This exhibition is the fourth and final in a series of foreign events of the FOCUS KAZAKHSTAN international project.

FOCUS KAZAKHSTAN is implemented as part of the Rukhani Zhangyru program and is part of the special “Modern Kazakhstan culture in the global world” project.

“This project is an example of the first and successful experience in organizing of large-scale exhibitions of contemporary fine art of Kazakhstan in the international arena. In 4 cities (London, Berlin, Jersey City, Suwon), about 400 works and archival documents of 94 artists were demonstrated. At the end of the project, catalogs will be published for each exhibition”, curator of the FOCUS KAZAKHSTAN project Roza Abenova said.

Photo by Alexander Ugai

The “Eurasian Utopia: Post Scriptum” exhibition attempts to identify the narratives of Kazakhstan's art through the study of the creative works of artists of the Soviet period and modern artists, to show the continuation of artistic tradition and break with it, the birth of modern art in the period of independence of the country and the appearance of new discourses and new media. The peculiarities of the national school of painting, the phenomenon of “local modernism” and art in the period of independence are the key themes of this exhibition. The exhibition presents works of Uke Azhiyev, Olga Kuzhelenko, Salikhitdin Aitbayev, Zhanat Shardenov, Yevgeny Sidorkin, Aleksei Stepanov, Mikhail Kim, Boris Pak, Abdrashit Sydykhanov, Rustam Khalfin, Sergei Maslov, Saken Narynov, Serikbai Alzhanova, Yerbossyn Meldibekov, Yelena and Victor Vorobyev, Alexander Ugai, Bakhyt Bubikanova, Alibek Mergenov, Saule Dyussenbina, Nurbol Nurakhmet and others.

Photo by Alexander Ugai

Curators of the “Eurasian Utopia: Post Scriptum” exhibition are Sorokina Yuliya (Kazakhstan), Eun Young Shin (South Korea). Yuliya Sorokina highlights the phenomenon of local modernism, the artist’s understanding of the heritage of modernism and its connection with local practices.

Photo by Alexander Ugai

“Kazakhstan is historically closely connected with Korea, however, we know very little about the art and culture of Kazakhstan. And thanks to the first exhibition of Kazakhstani art, we have a wonderful opportunity to learn more about it”, Eun Young Shin noted.

The exhibition will run until March 3, 2019.

Main photo by Alexander Ugai

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