An international exhibition, "Himoya: Feminine Energies, Sacred Bonds," will open at the Tselinny Center of Contemporary Culture in Almaty on October 15. According to infohub.kz, the project brings together 21 artists from Central Asia and other regions.
Participants will present both new works created specifically for the exhibition and existing pieces. The central theme is the female line of memory and kinship.
The works touch on Sufi and Zoroastrian practices, shamanic traditions, Tengrism and ancient Turkic worldviews. Special attention will be given to the disappearance of languages, rituals and local traditions in the regions.
"Himoya explores how art shapes practices of self-knowledge, bold narratives, affirmations and memory; artistic practice here appears as a talisman and prophetic protection in an era of patriarchal violence and the hegemony of world domination," the center says in its description of the exhibition.
The project is curated by Indian researcher Natasha Ginwala, who has curated projects at major international venues, including the Gwangju and Sharjah biennials. The exhibition's architecture and scenography were designed by Diogo Passarinho Studio. Among the participants from Kazakhstan are Almagul Menlibayeva, Nara Beibit and Yelaman Muktarkhan.
"Himoya: Feminine Energies, Sacred Bonds" will run at Tselinny from October 15, 2026 to April 4, 2027.
Kursiv LifeStyle previously reported that an art festival is taking place in Almaty.