The weekend is on our doorstep, offering residents of Astana and Almaty a variety of events to unwind. In the capital, it’s a quiet weekend with a lecture dive into the literary classic, Robinson Crusoe, revealing layers beyond its surface adventure narrative. Almaty, on the other hand, will have a busy schedule. There's the magic of Bollywood music in the air, with all the melodrama for residents to cry and laugh to their hearts' content. Also, the local initiative invites the city's guests and residents to learn more about the historic and ecological issues of Lake Balkhash, the life fountain of Almaty.
Discover these and more events in the digest by QazMonitor below.
Astana
Ballerina (발레리나, dir. Lee Chung-hyun) screening with East Asian studies scholar Kamila Kayriden
After learning of her best friend's death and the revelation that her dying wish was for Ok-ju to exact revenge on her blackmailer, former VIP bodyguard Jang Ok-ju is out for blood. The task ahead is difficult, but she has skills, connections, and a burning desire for retribution.
NOTE: To attend the event, please sign up through Concept Art’s DMs.
Date: February 16, 7:00 p.m.
Address: Concept Art lecture hall, Kerey and Zhanibek Khans Street 5, office 23, 2nd floor
Entrance: ₸3,000 (as of February 15, 2024, $6.70)
"Robinson, Loneliness, and The Others" lecture by historian of philosophy Ekaterina Gogleva
The story of one Robinson Crusoe still captivates readers’ imagination. Ekaterina Gogleva, a historian of philosophy, will explore this tale as a variation of an ethical paradox—a thought experiment. If no other person is nearby and every possible rule ceases to exist, will you still be yourself?
NOTE: The lecture will be conducted in Russian. To attend the event, please sign up through Concept Art’s DMs.
Date: February 17, 5:30 p.m.
Address: Concept Art lecture hall, Kerey and Zhanibek Khans Street 5, office 23, 2nd floor
Entrance: ₸3,000 ($6.70)
Almaty
"World of Bollywood" concert by BN Team Orchestra
Lovers lost in each other eyes, as the world around them blurs under the rainfall in a sequel to Aashiqui, or an archer shooting her target only to bring that man under the temple’s care in the historic setting of Padmaavat—this is the range of Bollywood’s takes on romance and love. With the music inherent in each scene, it sweeps viewers away in a whirlwind of emotions unlike any other.
Date: February 17, 7:00 p.m.
Address: Republic Palace, Dostyk Avenue 56
Entrance: ₸8,000–₸16,000 ($17.88–$35.75)
"February Blues" concert by jazz saxophonist Yaroslav Freedman
Smooth saxophone tunes are a flirtatious and feisty affair that presents the audience with an image of February that is fluid, poised on the brink of nature's awakening after the winter slumber. Saxophonist Yaroslav Freedman invites his audience to an evening that is mysterious, mellow, and undeniably groovy.
Date: February 18, 7:00 p.m.
Address: La Boheme theater, Valikhanov Street 43
Entrance: ₸4,000 ($8.94)
"ERKINDIK" exhibition by sculptor Daniyar Sarbassov
A winged horse, or tulpar, is an ancient-long imagery associated with nomads, deeply woven into local folk traditions with layers of symbolism. Representing notions of strength, justice, and nobility, tulpar embodies powerful ideals. Daniyar Sarbassov's expression blends traditional imagery with the interconnectedness of modern culture, breathing new life into symbolic motifs.
Date: Until February 28
Address: Abylkhan Kasteyev Museum of Arts, Microdistrict Koktem-3, 22/1
Entrance: ₸200–₸500 ($0.45–$1.12)
Art Collider X Balqashqa Qamqor documentaries screening
Lake Balkhash. Its western part is fresh water, while the eastern is deeper and saline. This biome and its historical landscape are intrinsically linked. In the 1930s, a devastating famine swept through the steppe, forcing people to seek refuge at the copper smelter off the coast of Balkhash. Today, industrial use is draining the Lake’s waters, endangering the delicate balance of the entire region's ecosystem.
The ART Collider collective invites its audience to explore the region's history, culture, and ecology through its documentary work, a collaborative effort with local activists and experts.
Dates:
February 17, 2:00 p.m. – Balkhash: The Darkness Over The Grave (Балқаш: Қабір үстіндегі зұлмат)
February 24, 2:00 p.m. – Omirkeldi Abeuov’s Song (Өміркелді Әбеуовтың әні)
March 2, 2:00 p.m. – The Song of Konyrat (Песнь о Конырате)
NOTE: The documentaries will be shown in either Kazakh or Russian, with subtitles provided in the opposite language.
Address: bULt rave space, Gagarin Street 83
Entrance: Free
"Me and Almaty – The City That Took My Heart Away" exhibition by painter Alexey Utkin
The imaginative art of Alexey Utkin is a testament to his profound fascination with the City of Apples. In his works, Almaty is a dreamy, innately beautiful place, akin to an impressionistic masterpiece where colors take on a life of their own.
Date: Until March 10
Address: Abylkhan Kasteyev Museum of Arts, Microdistrict Koktem-3, 22/1
Entrance: ₸200–₸500 ($0.45–$1.12)