The main Museum of the country was opened to the general public on July 2, 2014, as part of the implementation of the State program “Cultural Heritage”.

Panel-Gobelin, diptych. (author unknown)

Today, the National Museum is a recognizable and beloved place in our country.

Over such a ten-year period, the museum has hosted many bright exhibitions that have become events in the cultural life of Kazakhstan: the legendary exhibitions “East-West”, an exhibition of weapons art from the collection of the Hermitage (St. Petersburg), “The Terracotta Army of Emperor Qin Shihuangdi” - from the National Museum of China (Beijing), “Paul Seruzier and Brittany.

“The current anniversary exhibition demonstrates the history of the development of the Kazakh national painting school as a unique, original, and vibrant phenomenon. It attracts the attention of all lovers, connoisseurs of painting and those who are discovering this diverse world of Kazakh painting for the first time to domestic art, which can captivate a sophisticated modern viewer. The basis of the exhibition is the museum's art collections: a collection of painting, graphics, sculpture, decorative and applied and jewelry art. In total, the exhibition contains about 250 works by 50 authors”,- noted the curator of the exhibition, art critic Olga Baturina.

At the first excursion, with the curator of the exhibition, Professor of Art History Olga Baturina

The exhibition features bright spots of large felt and tapestries: “Kangbak”, “Kyu” by Zamzagul Oralbaeva and a monumental tapestry triptych by an unknown author (exhibited for the first time in the history of the National Museum). The tradition of felt making and weaving, which goes back centuries in Kazakh culture, continues today in the work of contemporary artists.

“The hall provided by the National Museum of the Republic of Kazakhstan is one of the largest and most central rooms - 1100 square meters. This space will allow us to deploy the exposition as expressively and effectively as possible, including the best works of recognized masters of art of the Republic of Kazakhstan, as well as works by young talented authors” -emphasized the head of the marketing and creative industry department of the National Museum of the Republic of Kazakhstan Zaure Konysbekova.

The first section of the exhibition is dedicated to historical images, subjects and themes. Its name “The Spirit of Ancestors” is symbolic and poetic, revealing the archetypes of national history. The next large section of the exhibition is “Family. Love. Spring. Childhood”. Bright, warm, emotional images of classics of Kazakh painting: Aisha Galimbaeva, Gulfairus Ismailova, Moldakhmet Kenbaev, Kamil Shayakhmetov, Kenzhebay Duisenbaev, Olga Kuzhelenko, Maria Lizogub, Tokbolat Togusbaev, Bakhtiyar Tabiev, Magaui Amanzholov, Dulat Aliev, Mikhail Antonyuk talk about the most important and eternal things in the life of every person.

The center of the exhibition is “Masters and Masterpieces”, which includes works by luminaries of Kazakh painting, which became programmatic in their work: “In the Virgin Lands. Yermentauskie Dali” by Aubakir Ismailov, “Foothills of Brichmulla” by U. Tansykbaev, “Aura of Tenderness” by K. Mullashev, “Allegory” by Zh. Kairambaev, “Atameken” by A. Esdauletov, “Echo of Antiquity” by A. Bapanov, “Eastern Bazaar” by M. Khitakhunov, “Portrait of Daughter Daria” by M. Kalimov, “Airport in the Virgin Lands” by R. Esirkeev, “Baba – Ata Aul” by Yu. Evseev, “Red Horse” by Z. Tusipova, “Kelinchek” by E. Tulepbaev, “Shepherd” by V. Tovtin. There are also works by talented artists whose work became known during the years of independence: E. Palymbetova, K. Azhibekov, B. Burdesbekov, Yu. Kamelin, A. Terekhov, P. Belov, Kozhakhan Shaaryn and others.

Kamil Mullashev, Honored Worker of the Republic of Kazakhstan, (against the background of his work “Aura of Tenderness” 2000).

A separate section of the exhibition is dedicated to landscape painting, as one of the important themes of Kazakh fine art. “Poetry of Mountains and Steppes” - here are presented works by outstanding artists of Kazakhstan: N. Khludov, A. Cherkassky, Zh. Shardenov, S. Aitbaev, S. Kenzhebaev, V. Eifert, V. Kolodenko, A. Sapugov, L. Leontiev, Sakhi Romanov, A. Shkolny, A. Nakisbekov, A. Stepanov, I. Kvachko, as well as paintings by contemporary landscape painters: M. Baitenov, E. Fridlin, M. Nurguzhin, A. Abzhanova, T. Baigaliev, M. Kalkabaev.

Nikolai Khludov “Mountain landscape” 1900.

“Many of the works at this exhibition are being exhibited for the first time in the history of the museum or after a long period of storage in the collections. Some of them have undergone complex restoration before appearing before the viewer in the halls of the museum. These include the paintings of Aubakir Ismailov (1958) “In the Virgin Lands. Yermentauskie Dali” and “Morning on Tengiz” (1972) by Mikhail Shatalov” - Professor of Art History Olga Baturina continued to introduce the unique exhibition to the first guests of the exhibition.

The final section of the exhibition presents a panorama of contemporary art in Kazakhstan. The exposition includes the most interesting works of “contemporary art” in Kazakhstan. Artistic experiments with form, color, textures, images and formats, updating expressive techniques and searching for a new visual language that allows us to express all the complexity and diversity of the modern world in the work of: S. Bayaliev, A. Rorokin, A. Menlibaeva, A. Shalbaev, A. Akhmedyarov, G. Telgozieva, S. Atabekov, R. Abdulov, R. Slekenov, M. Bekeev, G. Goncharova, N. Khamidova, D. Nuger.

Petr Belov, “Autumn Dessert” 2005.

Yerbolat Tolepbay, “Kelіnshek” 2009.

Young visitors at the anniversary exhibition at the museum

About the National Museum: The basis of the museum collection is artifacts discovered as part of this state program. The museum complex is located on an area of ​​74,000 m2. 20 halls of permanent exhibitions present the history and culture of the country from ancient times to the present day, immerse you in the original culture of Kazakhstan. More than 200 thousand museum collections are systematized in a single database, developing and updating the digital museum communications platform. The Museum implements cultural, educational and scientific projects to preserve, study and promote the cultural heritage of Kazakhstan - the heir of the steppe civilization and the driver of economic development of the Central Asian region. The National Museum of Kazakhstan has accumulated invaluable experience in intercultural interaction based on partnerships with cultural institutions in Central Asia, Southeast Asia, the CIS, Europe, and influential international organizations.

The anniversary exhibition at the National Museum is held with the support of the Ministry of Culture and Information of the Republic of Kazakhstan.

From April 5 to July 31, 2024.