Roza Abenova, 55, hometown: Moscow-Astana, mentor
Was founded in 2008
Persons in the staff: 3
Gallery area: 118 square meters.
HOW IT ALL BEGAN
Being five or six, I had several paintings including "Girl Gathering Grapes" by Karl Bryullov in my room. I would always start my day by watching sun rays lighting the painting. It’s important for a child to contemplate the beauty since childhood. Thus, parents won’t have to make children read when they can reach bookshelves by themselves.
There’re some people ready to spend lots of money on some stuff, though blaming the paintings in our gallery for being too expensive. In fact, any piece of art can be inherited, whereas some stuff such as apparels will be fashionable for a short while. That tendency takes place because of the lack of galleries, as people aren’t reached these ideas and values. Therefore, I gradually moved to gallery activities, did a second degree in Cultural Studies "Criticism and contemporary art mentorship". I’ve been engaged in the contemporary art popularization since 2000.
I had a technical qualification firstly, yet always wanted to deal with something spiritual. While living in Moscow, my daughter and I used to visit museums, conservatories, and theaters that aroused the feeling of dissatisfaction with my job. My friend opened a gallery and invited me to work there, which I didn’t hesitate to do. There we represented some works of nonconformist unofficial art. Visiting my relatives in Astana, I noticed that there were almost no galleries. Astana should have many galleries of different directions, since they make people cultural, educated, and tolerant.
ON THE GALLERY
These days gallery is the spot, where people can obtain spiritual information. We’re located in a shopping center. People are busy, so they don’t have time to visit galleries and enjoy breathtaking works. Galleries like ours are in walking distance for those who go shopping with a child and want to watch some paintings.
We started out gallery in "Keruen" a couple of months ago. People living by the mall are used to visiting us and taking their guests with them to show our artists. They’re apparently proud of the art made in Kazakhstan, by Kazakhstanis. Works in our gallery cause a sense of pride for their city, their people.
Each city should have intellectual and spiritual places forming and warming its soul, as sometimes we forget about the people who transform and color the world by creating the beauty .
Contemporary art galleries contribute to the creation of a favorable city image. In fact, the self-identification of people occurs through arts and crafts, fine arts, and folklore.
On EXPO-2017 eve, many foreigners are willing to see our soul, which can be shown through art.
ON IDEA
Our main task is to promote the modern art of Kazakhstan, as the world should know about Kazakhstan through its art.
The gallery should inspire the ones who don’t understand art, but want to. Therefore, we have opened an educational program that teaches both children and adults to draw and know art history.
Another goal is to promote Kazakhstani artists, both in Kazakhstan and abroad. For the sake of this we arrange exhibitions, invite people, prepare press releases.
ON PICTURES
Our gallery represents professional art, which are the works of both famous and young Kazakhstani artists.
The works of the Akanayev’s dynasty are exhibited here, as well as the works of Astana artists such as Bakytnur Burdesbekov, Kamil Mulashev. The works of Saltanat Tashimova and Andrei Starkov are to be represented soon.
We have catalogs of artists, where you can find and get the painting you like.
It’s very important for artists to make their paintings seen. Having paintings bought is great incentive for them as well, as for many artists paintings are the only source of income. Selling paintings is a kind of gasoline for cars, which is needed for the artist to go further, faster.
ON PLANS
We want to collect and make exhibitions series of interesting paintings by our most prominent artists. It would be great to find sponsors and present our artists at international exhibitions. Also, we’re planning to launch an educational project.
I wish we got state support, as many galleries are covered by the state.
One of the main goals is the participation of Kazakhstani artists at the Venetian Biennale on May 13, 2017, which is a big project. This event is a world review of the achievements of a country’s contemporary art. From 80 to 90 countries participate in the Biennale annually. Kazakhstan’s never participated in such an event, which proves that we don’t have enough people popularizing art.
