It'll be a snowy affair across the entire country this weekend, perfect for getting cozy in the place of your choice. In Astana, local artist Darya Shvaleva will explore the country’s past, revealing how it has left its mark on even the most unexpected objects. Almaty residents will have the opportunity to experience a true underground Berlin rave all for themselves, as Britta Arnold is set to bring her distinct eclectic approach to the southern metropolis. Meanwhile, Karagandy has no less than its 90th anniversary in store, with a plethora of lectures, exhibitions, and films for all those curious about the story behind the City of Miners.
Discover what awaits you this weekend in the list by QazMonitor below.
Astana
"Kazakhstan 2024: Growth Points and Prospects" open talk by economists Natalia Zubarevich and Kuanysh Zhaikov
As talk about doubling Kazakhstan's GDP fills the air, much attention is directed to economic matters. To achieve the desired result, the nation mulls over various factors, from decentralization of power to upping its game in cross-border trade. Economists Natalia Zubarevich and Kuanysh Zhaikov will lead a discussion on these challenges and provide an overview of where we can double our efforts and what developments we can expect.
NOTE: The discussion will be conducted in Russian.
Date: February 10, 5:00 p.m.
Address: SoZ Astana Public Talk, Orta business center, Mangilik Yel Avenue 41/1
Entrance: ₸20,000 ($44.22)
"Robert Schumann and Clara Wieck" concert by FORTE TRIO
Husband and wife Robert Schumann and Clara Wieck mark the height of the Romantic era. Their piano works exhibit a measured musicality, overlaying narratives akin to lo-fi in their chill and contemplation.
Date: February 11, 5:00 p.m.
Address: Astana Concert Hall, Kenesary Street 32
Entrance: ₸3,000 ($6.63)
Lectures by literary critic Galina Yuzefovich on new trends in world and Russian literature
The world of literature has changed, and so have its readers. Galina Yuzefovich, a renowned literary critic, sets out to explore these new depths – from the ‘feminization’ of literature, as the trade starts to finally reflect what half of the population around the globe thinks and feels, to the advent of AI as a primary tool in every writer's toolbox.
NOTE: The lectures will be conducted in Russian.
Dates:
Almaty – February 9, 7:00 p.m. – “Literature Is A Woman's Business: Why (Almost) All New Writers Are Female” lecture
Astana – February 10, 7:00 p.m. – “A Character Becomes A (Co)Author: AI In Literature” lecture
Astana – February 11, 7:00 p.m. – “Literature Is A Woman's Business: Why (Almost) All New Writers Are Female” lecture
Addresses:
Almaty – SmArt.Point coworking space, Baizakov Street 280
Astana – Astana Mall, coworking space on 3rd floor, Tauelsizdik Avenue 34
Entrance: ₸15,000 ($33.17)
"Whisper of Reeds" exhibition by Darya Shvaleva
Born from travels across the steppe; from the wind turning the pages of Chyngyz Aitmatov’s novels to the scents of herbs, Darya Shvaleva’s exhibition will touch on the sprouts of the past and present poking out of the ground—both the good and the ugly. The persisting signs of the bygone tragedies.
Date: Until March 4
Address: Sal Seri gallery, Heydar Aliyev Street 10/1
Entrance: Free
Almaty
Elevation Afterparty with Britta Arnold
This Saturday, Britta Arnold will be throwing down beats deep in the heart of Almaty, bringing with her that authentic vibe of underground Berlin. Known for her eclectic approach, Arnold doesn't limit herself, drawing inspiration from techno, house, electro, and other genres to craft a dynamic sound experience.
Date: February 10, 9:00 p.m.
NOTE: Contact bULt rave space Instagram page for address and further details.
Entrance: ₸5,000 ($11.06)
"The Birth of the Dragon" (용의 탄생) performance in celebration of Seollal
February 10 marks the start of the Korean Lunar New Year under the auspices of the most noble Dragon, a creature that holds different meanings throughout Asia to that of Europe. Zhylan in Kazakh culture, Yong in Korean, the Dragon symbolizes wisdom and power in many Asian cultures. The troupe at the Korean Theater aims to bring forth that image with a touch of humor, songs, and choreographic performances.
Dates:
February 9, 7:00 p.m.
February 10-11, 6:00 p.m.
Address: Republican State Academic Korean Theater, Bogenbay Batyr Street 158
Entrance: ₸1,000–3,000₸ ($2.21–$6.63)
Screening of Madina Mustafina's documentaries
QYZQARAS female filmmaker’s community invites all to experience the different documented realities in Madina Mustafina’s works. In Come On, Scumbags (Ещё чуток, мрази), eighteen-year-old Zhenya is no different from a thousand other girls, except for one thing, she was born a boy. Milana (Милана) tells the tale of a young girl from a troubled family. They live in a forest near a big city, and as Milana’s investigations would discover, their circumstances are far from unusual.
Date: February 11, 3:00 p.m.
Address: bULt rave space, Gagarin Street 83
Entrance: Free
NOTE: To attend the event, please sign up through QYZQARAS's DMs.
"BATTAL" performance evening
Three performances, three theaters. These stories encompass a narrative of ordinary actions culminating in unforeseen consequences, a reinterpretation of Hemingway’s The Old Man and the Sea, and the biographies of eight women mathematicians, woven into the words and movements of the performers.
Date: February 11, 7:00 p.m.
Address: Total Theater, Shevchenko Street 114
Entrance: ₸5,000 ($11.06)
Karagandy
Celebration of the city's 90th anniversary
What began as a mining operation in the 19th century evolved into a city by the 1930s. Karagandy is rich in quirky facts — take the karagan plant, for example. Not only did it lend its name to the city but it also has the entire Caragana genus named after it. Or did you know that the city’s mining assets were actively traded on the London Stock Exchange once? The city's Urban Center couldn’t miss this milestone and has curated lectures, exhibitions, and historical films to encourage residents and guests alike to delve into the story of Karagandy.
Date: February 10, 4:00 p.m.
Address: Terricon Valley, Alalykin Street 12/1
Entrance: Free
