WELCOME TO KAZAKHSTAN

Yertai Altayevich Sarsenov is a craftsman, teacher, member of the Eurasian Union of Designers and the Union of Designers of the Abai region. He makes national jewelry and tools by hand, trains teenagers in the city of Kossy and continues the business that began long before his birth — in his family, the love of craft is passed down from generation to generation. In an interview, he tells how wood, silver and Kazakh ornaments became for him the language of cultural preservation.Yertay Altayevich, you represent more than the first generation of artisans. How did it all start in your family?— I was born in the Abai region, in the village of Zhanatilek. My father was a labor teacher, just like I am now. He was a craftsman, just like his father, my great—grandfather. He was a hunter, worked with leather, and did useful things in everyday life. From an early age, I watched this work and also started working with wood. Then he entered the Faculty of Art in the direction of decorative and applied arts. After graduation, he returned to his native village and began teaching handicrafts to children.What areas do you work in as a master? And what is important to you in the national style?— I work mainly with wood and silver. We create kobyz, dombra, make ornaments, ornaments. I often use the motif "koshar muiz" — a ram's horn. This is an ancient symbol that was considered a talisman. I also use Saka motifs and rock carvings found in the steppes. It is important for me that jewelry has not only aesthetic, but also cultural significance. Silver is not just beautiful — it heals, cleanses, and kills germs. No wonder, in the Kazakh tradition, a woman had to wear silver jewelry.How long does it take for one product? And which techniques do you consider the most difficult?— It all depends on the complexity. Sometimes it can take up to a month to complete a set. On average, it takes a week for one piece of jewelry. The most time—consuming is the filigree. You work with a very thin wire, from which you create an ornament. It's a long, painstaking technique, but the result is worth it — it turns out subtly, elegantly, richly. I do everything manually, it gives the product a soul. Therefore, my works find a response — they are bought, they are worn.Where do you get your inspiration? What role do you think craft plays in culture?— Inspiration comes in different ways. Sometimes — through life events. Sometimes I have dreams. And sometimes I just turn on the music, and an idea is born. For me, craft is more than a hobby. I have a main job, I teach children, but through jewelry I want to convey the cultural code. We, the masters, are obliged to preserve our national identity so that it does not disappear. I participate in fairs, and even presented my products at the World Nomad Games. Foreigners are also often interested, buy, and ask questions.What is your most significant product? And what do you dream of as a master?— You know, I think I haven't made the most important piece yet. So far, everything is ahead. I have more than 18 years of experience under my belt, but I dream of my work moving from craft to art. So that someday grandchildren or students will open a chest with products and say: these are not just jewelry - this is part of our history.It should be noted that each product of Yertay Altayevich is not just a handiwork. This is a message from the past, translated into the language of the present. Through wood, silver, fabric and pattern, he conveys a sense of time so that we do not forget the uniqueness of our history and national code.