The National Bank of Kazakhstan and the international art project World Painting have announced a collaboration to create a collector coin in support of peace and creative unity. The coin features a dove of peace clutching an olive branch in its beak, crafted by two artists, Karipbek Kuyukov and Dauren Kasteyev, QazMonitor learned from the World Painting’s author Daut Shaikhislam.
What happened: The announcement took place during the 69th winter meeting of the Ski Club Of International Journalists in Almaty, where 150 journalists from 32 countries gathered to compete in alpine and cross-country skiing races. Karipbek Kuyukov spoke about the new collaborative art project during the event and expressed his hope that the coin will serve as a symbol of peace.
I dream that in any part of our planet, only doves flutter in the blue sky — free of any missiles.
Karipbek Kuyukov is a Kazakh artist, anti-nuclear weapons activist, and the ATOM Project honorary ambassador, who was born without arms due to his family's exposure to radiation from nuclear tests at the Semipalatinsk Test Site. In his works, the artist often tackles the themes of peace and nuclear disarmament. Kuyukov’s collaborator in the coin project, Dauren Kasteyev, is the grandson of the renowned Soviet-era artist Abylkhan Kasteyev.
The coin: The obverse features a colorful image of a dove, utilizing color printing technology. On the reverse side, there will be a stylized emblem of Kazakhstan, featuring the inscription “Republic of Kazakhstan” in both Kazakh and English, alongside additional trivia. Measuring 50 mm in diameter, the coin will be crafted from 925 sterling silver. The National Bank has not revealed how many coins will be minted.
The World Painting: Launched in 2021 during the Dubai EXPO 2020, the World Painting is an international art project that emphasizes the importance of international dialogue and exchange through art. Painted by over two thousand people, it symbolizes peace and collaborative effort for mutual understanding. The painting holds a Guinness World Record for involving the largest number of people using and passing a paintbrush, symbolizing global harmony. In 2024, the project will be exhibited at art venues in China, the UK, and Italy.