The Embassy of the Republic of Kazakhstan in the Kingdom of the Netherlands is delighted  to invite You to the opening of the exhibition of:

Contemporary paintings from Kazakhstan ”Colours of Kazakhstan”

on the occasion of Kazakhstan’s Presidency of Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) in 2010

to be held on Friday, January 15th, 2010 at 16:00 at Galerie 91, Anna Paulownastraat 91, 2518BC Den Haag

The exhibition will take place from January 5th till February 10th, 2010

We thank our partners:
Galerie 91, Has Sanat Gallery & Caravan Cultura Art Agency

R.S.V.P. Embassy of the Republic of Kazakhstan
Nieuwe Parklaan 69, 2597LB, Den Haag
Tel. 070 3634757; Fax. 070 3657600
e-mail: nldiplomat@kazakhembassy.nl

---

Central Asia always allured travelers and tourists, who have come across new mysteries and unexpected discoveries. Situated in the center of the continent, Kazakhstan, the ninth largest country in the world, represent a huge domain, on territory of which you can find steppes, deserts and thick forests that turn into Siberian taiga. You can appraise the beauty of the Caspian Sea and the unique Balkhash Lake, as well as the Tien-Shan Mountain. It is the place where the Great Silk Road, on which in the course of thousands of years tradesmen carries silk from China to Europe had passed through. The ancient Kazakh cities Turkistan, Shymkent, Kulan, Sairam, Taraz, Otrar and many others can be found along the route, many of which have sunk into the sand of time.

Travelling on this wide expense, ancient nomads in the movement worked out their orientations using the heavens. That explains why they mastered the stars, constellations and had their own system cosmogonic views, steeped with legends and traditions. Since time immemorial, heroic an epic encounters rituals, weddings, burial songs, tales, legends and other folklore style passed from generation to generation orally. A special love for the art of improvisation lived in the people. The whole steppe knew its heroes, who were improvising in each aspect of arts and crafts.

Fantastically interlaced on canvas of national arts, are and trades such as the weaving of felt mats and carpets, pottery, armor making, harnesses, silver jewelry, and wood and bone-carving. A special place of honor was given to the delicate art of making national music instruments.

The 20th century saw Kazakhstan’ culture rise up to the stage of professionalism. Oral forms of poetry and mastering how to narrow stories have changed into serious literature, including the drama genre. Immense music folklore from the basis of operas, ballets, and symphonies, while market fair performances have been transformed into high degree theatre art. The national dance and classic ballet have been born and affirmed the rights to life, alongside with the appearance of our own cinematography.

After Kazakhstan gained its sovereignty, new ways of developing of our national culture have become available. There are many local and international festivals of classical and contemporary dances, theatre performances, and other events taking place in nowadays Kazakhstan.

The wheel of the history rotates in difficulty and complexity, constantly challenges by new changes in our globalized world. Some day writers, poets and historians will recount this period and artists will create their masterpieces.

This exposition “Colours of Kazakhstan” represents a mélange of paintings of contemporary artists from Kazakhstan. The paintings are presented by “Has Sanat” Gallery, Kazakhstan.
This exhibition is a part of long running project, which “Has Sanat” Gallery is responsible for and is a part of a promotional campaign to present the positive image of Kazakhstan on the international arena.

The idea of this nomadic exposition was conceived as a unique creative project, which represents the tendencies of all the organizers of this exhibition. They intend to draw attention of the public in Den Haag (via Gallery 91) to creative potential and cultural identity of modern artists from Kazakhstan. The concept of the exhibition and its organisation aims to offer all participants of this exhibition a unique chance to the landscape, where modern artists from Kazakhstan work and create their masterpieces. As well as to draw parallels between the artistic world of Kazakhstan and the Netherlands.

This exhibition is a nomadic one, by its nature. It started its journey in Astana, Kazakhstan and has been traveling through different cities in Eurasia, including Moscow, Warsaw, Prague, Frankfurt aan Main, Amsterdam, Eindhoven and nowadays, Den Haag.

“Has Sanat” Gallery has organized exhibitions in different countries. Among them are:

• Exposition of contemporary artists from Kazakhstan at the “Center of Arts Junus Amre”, Istanbul, Turkey;
• Exposition of contemporary artists from Kazakhstan “Central Gallery”, Izmir, Turkey;
• Personal Exhibition of an artist Leila Akhmet Osman in “Lotte” Center, Seul, South Korea;
• Charity Auction of paintings of contemporary artists from Kazakhstan at “The Dorchester Hotel London” in the Great Britain during the Charity Ball, which was organized by the Kazakhstan-Britain Society (under patronage of the President of the Republic of Kazakhstan, Mr. Nazarbayev and his Highness the Prince of York);
• Nomadic exposition of contemporary artists from Kazakhstan “Altyn gasar” (Golden Age) at “Manezh” Moscow, Russia as well as at the Museum of People of Orient and The Central House of Artist;
• Nomadic exposition of contemporary artists from Kazakhstan “Altyn gasar” (Golden Age) at “Hermitage”, Saint-Petersburg;
• Nomadic exposition of contemporary artists from Kazakhstan “Altyn gasar” (Golden Age) in “Korolevsky Lazanky” in Warsaw and later in Wrotslav, Poland;
• Nomadic exposition of contemporary artists from Kazakhstan “Altyn gasar” (Golden Age) at the “Adlon Kempinski” near the Brandenburg Gates, Berlin, Germany
• Sotheby’s exposition, during Kazakh-British Gala and Arts Festival.

This Nomadic exposition will move after Den Haag to Brussels. Later on a series of expositions will be organized in Wienna (Austria), Paris (France), New York (USA) and Washington DC (USA).