The upcoming weekend promises to be a captivating exploration for enthusiasts of every taste. In Astana, an exhibition featuring nine renowned Japanese artists will offer a diverse range of approaches to the exquisite culture of the Land of the Rising Sun. Meanwhile, Almaty will be hosting a piano concert, taking visitors on a journey through Gulmira Issimbayeva's musical realm. And, if that’s not enough, Almaty Tattoo United will be in full swing this Saturday, with tattoo artists from Kazakhstan and abroad showcasing their unique trade of craft.
Check out this and more in the list by QazMonitor below.
Astana
'Soli Deo Gloria' and 'Nine' neoclassical ballet
Prepare for an evening featuring two distinct plastic performances, each weaving its own unique narrative. Ainur Abilgazina's Soli Deo Gloria comprises a series of sketches that capture fleeting moments in a woman's life. In contrast, Olzhas Makhanbetaliyev's Nine is a narrative that interlaces the tales of nine characters within the complexities of society.
Date: September 22, 7:00 p.m.
Address: Astana Ballet, Uly Dala Avenue 43
Entrance: ₸5,000–₸7,000
Goryeo and Joseon lecture by East Asian scholar Kamila Kayriden
In the pre-modern era, Korea earned itself the moniker of the Hermit Kingdom. There, a tapestry of refined culture unfurled, weaving together elaborate tea ceremonies, exquisite fashion, pottery craftsmanship, and scholarly pursuits rivaling those of enlightened Ming China. This epoch heralded a new dawn, the era when Korea emerged as a realm celebrated for its beauty and rich cultural legacy.
NOTE: The lecture will be in Russian.
Date: September 24, 4:00 p.m.
Address: Concept Art lectorium, Kerey and Zhanibek Knahs Street 5
Entrance: ₸3,000
Delicate Balance exhibition
Embark on an odyssey into the world of contemporary Japanese art, where fifty-two captivating works by nine acclaimed artists await your exploration. Legendary Toko Shinoda's abstract masterpiece, Ancient Poem, invites you to delve into the interplay of colors, black and white, and the tense balance of forms and lines achieved through the subtle combination of the two.
The exhibition will also feature works by Hiromitsu Takahashi, Shuji Wako, Goto Hidehiko, Yoichiro Nishikawa, Tetsuro Sawada, Yoshikatsu Tamekane, Katsunori Hamanishi, and Ikegami Isao, each offering a distinct outlook on contemporary Japanese artistry.
Date: until October 10
Address: Has Sanat art gallery, Dinmukhamed Qonayev Street 14G
Entrance: Free
NOTE: The gallery is open Monday through Saturday. There is an admission fee for entrance during the weekend. For all inquiries, please refer to the gallery's Instagram page.
Almaty
Umay Eco Festival
Get ready for an all-family eco-fiesta! The Umay Eco Festival, a celebration dedicated to World Cleanup Day, is set to kick off this Saturday with all the workshops, thrilling quests, and exciting edutainment lectures aimed at sharing insights on how an everyday family can reduce their carbon footprint. No festival is complete without just a tad bit of music. So, get your moves on for the rap queen Yenlik, rock legends Dos-Mukasan, singer-songwriter artists Me and My Invisible Orchestra, and more.
Date: September 23, 10:00 a.m.
Address: First President Park, at the intersection of Dulati and Sain Streets, as well as Sain and Mustafin Streets
Entrance: Free/₸3,000–₸10,000
NOTE: The admission fee is required to participate in the paid sections of the festival. For the full program refer to the official schedule.
Almaty Tattoo United
This year's Almaty Tattoo United will gather artists, whose canvas of ink is a blend of global styles and unique flair, spanning from Kazakhstan to the Kyrgyz Republic, and beyond.
What’s more, the amazing Saltanat Serikbek will be there, showcasing her fusion of Kazakh ornaments and ink impressions. Earlier this year, QazMonitor interviewed Saltanat, delving into her artistic journey, one fateful encounter in Boston, and everything ink.
Date: September 23-24
NOTE: refer to the official page for more details
Address: FORUM mall, Seifullin Street 617
Entrance: ₸5,000–₸15,000
I Can See with My Heart exhibition and concert
‘I Can See with My Heart’ features the works of six incredible blind artists – Ilya Smertin, Valery Kornilov, Innokenty Kononov, Sakhaya Danilova, Michil Moiseev, and Ardan Galymuly. First, the audience will be invited to experience the sounds of kobyz, along with various scents and other immersive elements, all while blindfolded. Then, the audience will be invited to take the blindfolds and see the art pieces.
Date: until September 24
Address: Abylkhan Kasteyev Museum of Arts, Microdistrict Koktem-3, 22/1
Entrance: ₸5,000
Gulmira Issimbayeva piano concert
There’s a slight breeze that caresses the sea of greenery, with each ripple painted by the sun's radiant strokes on the azure canvas above. This is the scene one can imagine while taking a walk with Gulmira Issimbayeva's music in their headphones. And this Saturday, you have the chance to experience her contemplative piano pieces firsthand, diving into the boundless world of music.
But there's even more to this, as Gulmira will be featured in an upcoming QazMonitor interview, where she will unveil two surprising facets of her life, one linked to her music career, and the other… well, you’ll just have to wait and see!
Dates:
Almaty – September 23, 6:00 p.m.
Karagandy – September 28, 6:30 p.m.
Addresses:
Almaty – Ala Space concept venue, Kurmangaliyev Street 32
Karagandy – Musical Comedy Theater, Buqar-Jyrau Avenue 32/2
Entrance: ₸4,000–₸16,000
Alma exhibitions by Antje Majewski, Pawel Freisler, and Brigitte Hofherr
Most foreign visitors to Kazakhstan know that alma in Almaty means apple. The City of Apples might be located just in the very place where the first apples were domesticated.
The exhibition of Antje Majewski and Pawel Freisler called ‘Apple. An Introduction (over and over and once again)’ will lead Almaty's audience along the geobotanical migration route of apples, and will explore oral histories surrounding this beloved fruit. Also, Brigitte Hofherr will present 'Endangered Portraits: Historical Apple Varieties,' showcasing hyperrealistic portraits of apples, revealing their wide range of shapes and colors found throughout Europe and Asia.
Date: until October 15
Address: Almaty Gallery, Dostyk Avenue 44
Entrance: Free
