Art of Her

Since 2013, Family Day has been celebrated in Kazakhstan every second Sunday of September. This year the holiday fell on September 11.

On the eve of the Family Day and within the framework of the I Republican Forum of Young Families "Shezhire", the media portal Art of Her together with Almaty Gallery, the Public Association "Union of Fathers", the Union of Artists of Kazakhstan, as well as the Ministry of Information and Public Development of the Republic of Kazakhstan organized a group exhibition "Shezhire".

The family is the beginning and continuation of a person. The understanding of the genus was formed even when there were no chronicles or languages. The family was depicted on the first rock paintings, poems were composed about families, family relationships were often described in stories.

Artists have always painted pictures dedicated to the genus, family and motherhood. These themes somehow excite every painter in a certain period of life. In her works, she conveys not only the individuality and unique character of the characters, but also, first of all, their subtle relationships.

More than 30 artists took part in the exhibition, including both famous masters of Russian painting and young talents.

"Not everyone knows on a large scale that every second Sunday we celebrate Family Day. All artists in their work touch on the theme of family, because, like any person, it is intimate, warm, sincere," said Umirbek Zhubaniyazov, Chairman of the Union of Artists of Kazakhstan.

In total, the exhibition presents about 60 works that are made in different genres, techniques and styles, among them: painting, graphics, tapestry, sculpture, etc. As curators and art critics note, such exhibitions are a unique event, since combining such different expositions in one hall is a difficult job.

"All the works of our Kazakhstani masters and young aspiring artists. Some names are already known to us: Aigul Khakimzhanova, Azat Tabiyev, Saida Tabieva, Maxim Vedernikov, Albert Guryev and others," Nargiz Alib, curator of the exhibition and director of Almaty Gallery, shared.

In the works of artists, the family manifests itself in various forms and images. For some, these are portraits of grandparents, sketches of childhood in the village; for others– landscapes of zhailau with grazing horses and a foal, still lifes of home life.

"I'm just drawn to writing images of the people I love. These are Apaches and atashki, our aul children. I adore Kazakh patterns, songs, dombra sounds. This is my world, I grew up in it, under the steppe sun. At the exhibition, I presented 3 works in the watercolor technique," said artist Lidia Drozdova.

According to art critic Alexandra Kudryashova, the image of a family in art cannot be unambiguous.

"We now have a need to modernize the image of the family. Because we have a national conservative understanding, and there is a modern one, which is also national. This exhibition is a good step forward. It unites not only traditional masters, but also modern young artists. It is interesting to see how this image of the family will change in 6-10 years," Alexandra Kudryashova shared.

The ideological inspirer of the exhibition was the co-founder of the media portal Art of Her - Alikhan Musatayev.

"The idea came quite recently when I started organizing the First Republican Forum of Young Families. Through this exhibition hall, viewers will be able to understand how important the topic of family is and how the family as a whole affects the choice of a child and his future formation. The exhibition "Shezhire" shows that the main happiness is in the family. No one cultivates this topic very much. I would like such exhibitions on various topics to be held as often as possible. I would like to gather young contemporary artists who would write their interpretation of the family beyond the classical understanding," said Alikhan Musatayev, co–founder of Art of Her.

Recall that within the framework of the I Republican Forum of Young Families and the exhibition "Shezhire" on September 11 at 14:00 in Almaty Gallery, a traditional meeting of Onermen Kezdesy with Professor of art history and speaker of the Art Society – Olga Baturina will take place. Entrance is strictly by pre-registration (active link).

The exhibition "Shezhire" will last until September 11, 2022.

Address: Almaty, Dostyk str., 44 (Almaty Gallery).

Working hours: Tue-Sun 11.00 — 19.00.

Admission is free.