This weekend offers something for every taste and every vibe. In Astana, the capital’s residents can look forward to pop science lectures on Turkic mythology and the world of contemporary jewelry. But it doesn’t end there; Astana is also set to host a concert by Song Won Sub, a South Korean singer who has captivated the domestic crowd with his renditions of Kazakh pop songs in Korean. Meanwhile, in Almaty, an open public laboratory will delve into the tragic events of January 2022, exploring ways to conceptualize our collective experience through art and science. Also, the southern metropolis will host a show by popular comedian Idrak Mirzalizade.
Discover these and other events in the list by QazMonior below.
Astana
Past Lives (dir. Celine Song) screening
Na Young and Hae Sung once shared a deep bond, but after Na Young’s family moved to Canada, they lost contact and went their separate ways. Twenty years later, the two reunite; Na Young now goes by the name Nora, and Hae Sung tries to reconnect their past lives with the present.
Date: January 13, 6:00 p.m.
Address: Whiteblue.group coworking space, Kabanbay Batyr Avenue 11, 2nd floor
Entrance: ₸2,190
NOTE: Registration for the event is available through MecumPorto’s Instagram page and ends the day before the event.
Song Won Sub concert
South Korean singer Song Won Sub has captivated the Central Asian audience with enchanting renditions of beloved Kazakh and Uzbek songs in Korean. So, make yourselves comfortable and get ready for an evening filled with smooth vocals, cozy vibes, and a blend of tunes that are both familiar and refreshingly different.
Date: January 13, 6:00 p.m.
Address: Congress Center, Heydar Aliyev Street 12
Entrance: ₸8,000–₸15,000
"Unraveling the Mysteries: Tapestry of Turkic Culture" lecture by Turkic scholar Zhakau Bagzhan
What lies at the heart of Turkic beliefs? It is the realm where gods and goddesses, adorned with horns symbolizing their power and divinity, reside—where Umay, governing the earth and all living beings, coexists with Kok Tengri, the sky bestowing blessings. Turkic scholar Zhakau Bagzhan will guide her audience on a journey, exploring the impact that Turkic tribes have left on the world around us and on ourselves as an ancestral legacy.
NOTE: The lecture will be conducted in Russian. Registration for the event is available through Concept Art's Instagram.
Date: January 14, 12:00 a.m.
Address: Concept Art lecture hall, Kerey and Zhanibek Khans Street 5, office 23, 2nd floor
Entrance: ₸3,000
"Contemporary Jewelry – Decorative Pieces or Art Objects?" lecture by jeweler Jeanna Assanova
Contemporary jewelry sticks to a different path than traditional craft; it's less about the material it's made from or its monetary value and more about the meaning and message it carries. In her lecture, jeweler Jeanna Assanova will delve into the intricacies of the business side of the industry, exploring how it coexists with artistic expression and how contemporary jewelry can speak on social issues.
NOTE: The lecture will be conducted in Russian. Registration for the event is available through Concept Art's Instagram.
Date: January 14, 2:00 p.m.
Address: Concept Art lecture hall, Kerey and Zhanibek Khans Street 5, office 23, 2nd floor
Entrance: ₸5,000
La boheme opera by Giacomo Puccini
In 19th-century Paris, the young poet Rodolfo resides with his peers in the city's bohemian quarters. Their lives are a constant struggle, as young men find themselves burning one unfinished manuscript after another to heat their abode. But it would seem that Rodolfo's fate might take a different turn when a chance encounter brings him together with Mimi, sparking love at first sight. Yet, the struggles of life persist, and now it's not just a matter of unwanted manuscripts burning away.
NOTE: The opera is staged in Italian with synchronized Kazakh and Russian surtitles.
Dates: January 13-14, 5:00 p.m.
Address: Astana Opera, Dinmukhamed Qonayev Street 1
Entrance: ₸1,000–₸5,000
Almaty
"Kantar: Our Feelings and Experiences" public opinion laboratory with Askhat Akhmedyarov and Nurseit Niyazbekov
The tragic events of January 2022 left their mark on the Kazakh zeitgeist and its lasting effects continue to influence individual and collective perceptions of everything before, during, and after the events. Contemporary artist Askhat Akhmedyarov and political scientist Nurseit Niyazbekov will tackle our shared collective experience and what forms of expression are available to us in science and art.
Date: January 13, 4:30 p.m.
Address: Conference hall at Esentai Mall, Al-Farabi Avenue 77/8, 2nd floor
Entrance: Free
Quintopole concert
What will jazz be like in a couple of decades? Quintopole band tries to answer this question with their blend of modern funk and jazz fusion, looking up to Wayne Shorter, Jaco Pastorius, Snarky Puppy, and other legendary jazz musicians. Get ready this Saturday for conceptuality and eclecticism, the way the band members see modern jazz.
Date: January 13, 10:00 p.m.
Address: EverJazz club, Zenkov Street 24
Entrance: ₸2,000–₸6,000
"Let's Discuss Topical Issues in The Life of Idrak" stand-up by Idrak Mirzalizade
You know the drill; Idrak Mirzalizade will go to the stage, sharing laughs about his life and our messed up world. Blending witty remarks with what’s around us, he invites the audience to join in on the reflection.
NOTE: The stand-up performance will be delivered in Russian
Date: January 14, 7:00 p.m.
Address: Almaty Central Stand Up Club, Kabanbay Batyr Street 71
Entrance: ₸4,000
"Form of Art" exhibition by artist Irina Guba
As a modern expressionist, Irina Guba expresses herself through a captivating journey of color symphony and emotional impulse. The artist's exhibition will showcase thirty paintings that blend lightness with incredible and exhilarating emotionality.
Date: Until February 4
Address: Abylkhan Kasteyev Museum of Arts, Microdistrict Koktem-3, 22/1
Entrance: ₸200–₸700