This upcoming weekend rides on the wave of pop science lectures of all scales and themes, offering insights into the world around us. In Astana, the music crowd can anticipate Kholod rock 'n' metal fest, featuring thirty bands set to shred and tear up the stage over three weeks. Meanwhile, Almaty takes a quieter turn as residents of the southern capital have the chance to explore the wonderful world of children's art. And if you happen to spend this weekend in Karagandy or Atyrau, you’ll also have a few things to look up for – a workshop on critical listening in audio design, and Aibek Begalin’s exhibition, showcasing his distinct works, which blend neomodernism with magical realism.
Discover these and other events in this digest by QazMonitor.
Astana
"The Bauhaus, and Everything a Designer Should Know About It" lecture by designer Igor Serikov
A shining star of the Interbellum era, the Bauhaus design philosophy aimed to merge artistic vision with the practicalities of mass production. Designer Igor Serikov will lead his audience on a journey exploring the approaches taken by Walter Gropius, Laszlo Moholy-Nagy, Johannes Itten, and Wassily Kandinsky in shaping the fundamental principles of modern architecture and design.
Date: January 20, 3:00 p.m.
Address: Concept Art lecture hall, Kerey and Zhanibek Khans Street 5, office 23, 2nd floor
Entrance: ₸3,000 (as of January 18, 2024, $6.62)
NOTE: The lecture will be conducted in Russian. Registration for the event is available through Concept Art’s Instagram page.
Independent film screening with WE Discuss open dialogue space
This Saturday, film critic Alexandra Porshneva will showcase the works of a diverse and unlikely team, with each member drawing from different backgrounds. Though creating their worlds individually, they share common leitmotifs of love, family, and belonging.
WE Discuss invites all to see the diverse collection on display. Arpalys, an animation by filmmaker Tomiris Davletova, is deeply rooted in Turkic mythology. Tatiana and Marina Moshkova, hailing from St.Petersburg, are the creative minds behind Malyshariki and Super MEOW! cartoons and will showcase the works of the Russian animation school. Last but not least, Aida Adilbek will have her short documentary Alaqan speak on multigenerational bonds and the tangible reality that these connections create.
Date: January 20, 4:00 p.m.
NOTE: contact WE Discuss Instagram page for address and further details.
Entrance: ₸4,000 ($8.83)
"Peking Opera" lecture by Chinese scholar Dilnaz Orazbekova
Emerging in 18th-century Beijing, Peking opera presents an elaborate and colorful realm conveyed through speech, song, dance, and combat. In contrast to European drama productions, which often present realistic renditions amidst the hush of the audience's coughs, Peking opera brings drama to life through performers' symbolic movements, requiring layers of meaning to be conveyed in harmony with the music.
Chinese scholar Dilnaz Orazbekova will dissect the traditions and symbolism embedded in the elaborate makeup, costumes, and dramatic gestures of Peking opera, exploring the evolution of key elements in stage art, as well as famous classical operas.
Date: January 20, 5:30 p.m.
Address: Concept Art lecture hall, Kerey and Zhanibek Khans Street 5, office 23, 2nd floor
Entrance: ₸3,000 ($6.62)
NOTE: The lecture will be conducted in Russian. Registration for the event is available through Concept Art’s Instagram page.
Kholod fest
Ever wondered where’s all the rock and metal in the ninth-largest country in the world? Well, turns out they were just hibernating through the past summer, waiting for their time to emerge and make some noise. For three evenings, Astana will be the battleground of choice for thirty bands trading face-melting riffs and epic solos.
Dates:
January 20, 5:30 p.m.
Address: Chill Grill bar, Grand Alatau housing complex, Zheltoksan Street 2t
January 27, 5:30 p.m.
Address: D.O.M. bar, Republic Avenue 33A
February 3, 5:30 p.m.
Address: Chill Grill bar, Grand Alatau housing complex, Zheltoksan Street 2t
Entrance: ₸3,800–₸8,900 ($8.39–$19.64)
Almaty
"The Greatest of the Arts – Cinema. Early Tools of Film Theory" lecture by cinema scholar Nadezhda Berkova
Join cinema scholar Nadezhda Berkova, as she explores the formative days of world cinema. This era saw the sheer creativity of Sergei Eisenstein, who laid the groundwork for the montage theory. His writings explored the intriguing concept that a collision of shots can create metaphors, drawing the audience into previously uncharted cinematic experiences.
Date: January 21, 12:00 a.m.
Address: Kazzhol Business Center, Gogol Street 86, office 607
Entrance: ₸2,500–₸4,000 ($5.52–$8.84)
NOTE: The lecture will be conducted in Russian. Registration for the event is available through the contact provided on GeniAl Education Almaty’s Instagram page.
Were It So Easy to Be a Queen play based on Tears of the Queen (여왕의눈물) by Tsoy Eun-geun
Orphaned and uncertain about the future, she was fueled by a relentless thirst for vengeance that breathed new life into her. Now, her unwavering gaze is fixed upon the throne. The question is: will her quest for the throne cost her everything she now holds dear?
NOTE: The play will be staged in Korean with Russian surtitles.
Dates: January 20-21, 6:00 p.m.
Address: Republican State Academic Korean Theater, Bogenbay Batyr Street 158
Entrance: ₸1,000–₸2,500 ($2.21–$5.52)
"Dreamland" exhibition
What is children’s art? Primary educator Lena Anderson invites viewers to see the marvelous realities that children explore through the medium of art. Within a space where their intrinsic freedom holds ultimate self-value, children craft an inner realm where dreams, characters, and fantasies intertwine, unveiling unique stories expressed through boundless creativity.
Date: Until January 21
Address: 101 Dump Gallery, Panfilov Street 101
Entrance: Free
NOTE: Admission is free, but registration through the B–Brafalstvo Instagram page is required.
"Legacy of the Century" exhibition by Abylkhan Kasteyev
Chronicler of Soviet Kazakhstan, Abylkhan Kasteyev documented the shift from the traditional nomadic way of life of the Kazakh people to the era of industrial society. The artist’s namesake museum presents over 300 works in celebration of Kasteyev’s 120th anniversary, ranging from retrofuturistic canvases depicting the construction of the Turksib railway to a painting featuring a central element – a carpet adorned with an embroidered image of Stalin.
Date: Until January 31
Address: Abylkhan Kasteyev Museum of Arts, Microdistrict Koktem-3, 22/1
Entrance: ₸200–₸500 ($0.44–$1.10)
Atyrau
Workshop on critical listening by audio engineer Alisher Ikhsanov
Ever wondered how to ‘read’ a track like a book? Well, there's a skill for that, and audio engineer Alisher Ikhsanov will guide his audience in understanding how to engage with music on a deeper level, rather than letting it pass by as background noise.
Date: January 20, 5:30 p.m.
Address: YEMAA Center of Contemporary Culture, Qurmanghazy Street 12
Entrance: Free
NOTE: Admission is free, but registration through the Atyrau Music Community’s Instagram page is required.
Karagandy
Lecture on art in cinema, photography, fashion, and MVs by art curator Larissa Karchevskaya
The art medium serves as a crossroads for various forms of expression, be it film, photography, or literature. Intertwined, each medium contributes to a stunning experience that shapes our perception of the world around us. This Sunday, art curator Larissa Karchevskaya will showcase how art can be found even in the most unexpected places.
Date: January 21, 4:00 p.m.
Address: Naskalnyi Kit Independent Experimental Theater, Abay Street 11, 1st floor, 101 office
Entrance: ₸3,000 ($6.62)
NOTE: The lecture will be conducted in Russian. Registration for the event is available through the Naskalnyi Kit’s Instagram page.
"Los Angeles–Karagandy" exhibition by Aibek Begalin
Employing a distinct style that melds neomodernism with magical realism, Aibek Begalin often strives to guide his viewers down a path to another world. Be it fantastical and impossible plots, pastoral vistas, or somewhat eerie still life art, his work captivates the imagination.
For those intrigued by the artist behind the canvas, QazMonitor had the opportunity to interview Aibek Begalin, delving into his distinctive style of imagery and his creative pursuits in the US.
Date: Until February 6
Address: Altyn Gasyr gallery, Komissarov Street 35A
Entrance: Free