The National Pavilion of the Republic of Kazakhstan opened in Venice at the 61st International Art Exhibition, La Biennale di Venezia. As part of the event, our country is presenting the exhibition project "Qoñyr: Archive of Silence," exploring the themes of memory, silence, cultural continuity, and the inner resonance of history through the language of contemporary art.
The National Pavilion of Kazakhstan is presented at the prestigious exhibition with the support of the Ministry of Culture and Information of the Republic of Kazakhstan.
The opening ceremony was attended by Aibek Sydykov, Vice Minister of Culture and Information of the Republic of Kazakhstan; Yerbolat Sembayev, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of Kazakhstan to the Italian Republic, the Republic of Malta, and the Republic of San Marino; Pietrangelo Buttafuoco, President of the Venice Biennale; and representatives of the creative intelligentsia of Kazakhstan and Italy.
In his speech, Aibek Sydykov noted that the Venice Biennale is one of the most important cultural platforms in the world, strengthening dialogue between cultures. "For Kazakhstan, participation in the Biennale is an opportunity to contribute its own voice to the multi-vocal dialogue of cultures. Contemporary Kazakh art thrives at the intersection of tradition and innovation, where the historical heritage and code of steppe culture acquire new resonance through contemporary artistic practices. We are confident that the Kazakhstan pavilion will become a space for meaningful dialogue, a source of inspiration, and a place relatable to every visitor," the Vice Minister noted.
The exhibition, housed in five interconnected halls of the Museo Storico Navale, is structured as an immersive journey through sound, space, and visual imagery.
The curator of the project "Qoñyr: Archive of Silence" is Syrlybek Bekbota. His work is inspired by the traditional Kazakh kyu, Qoñyr, by composer Abiken Khasenov. The exhibition directly resonates with the Biennale's main theme, "In Minor Keys," and explores the concept of Qoñyr as a metaphor for memory, inner resonance, and cultural experience.
The work by Steppe Architectonics by Smail Bayaliev, Akmaral Mergen, Gulmaral Tatibay, and Natalia Ligay, with monumental figures of horses, the sound of hooves, and steppe grass, transforms the exhibition space into a tangible landscape.
The exhibition by Mansur Smagambetov, Oralbek Kaboke, and Nurbol Nurakhmet continues to explore the theme of lived memory. Through sound, object, and installation, the artists demonstrate how memory is preserved and transmitted in everyday life.
Also on display is Anar Aubakir's work "Matrix of a New Subject," in which the inner layer of an old camel wool blanket is reimagined as an art object and a silent archive of intergenerational memory. The exhibition concludes with Ardak Mukanova's digital work "Qoñyr Äulie: Immersion into the Quiet Depths." This is an immersion into a sacred space where light and myth are not directly narrated, but perceived through inner experience.
"Kazakhstani art, like Kazakhstan itself, draws on its history and cultural identity, looking to the future and organically reflecting contemporary artistic trends. I found the connection with memory particularly interesting—the ability of art to become a kind of archive while preserving its own unique artistic expression. This manifests itself in spiritual quests and inner experiences, as well as in the choice of poetry and music as key means of artistic expression," said Pietrangelo Buttafuoco.
It's worth noting that this year's project marked a new stage in the preparation of the National Pavilion: for the first time, Kazakhstan selected a curator and artists through an open competition. The selection process consisted of two stages: an expert evaluation of materials and online interviews with the finalists. Samruk-Kazyna JSC, which supported the presentation of contemporary Kazakhstani art at one of the key international cultural venues, is the project's general partner. Visitors can visit the Kazakhstan pavilion at the 61st Venice Art Biennale in the Museo Storico Navale from May 9 to November 22, 2026.