The “DARA ART” gallery hosted the opening of the creative exhibition “Shańyraq” by the well-known designer, PhD, and associate professor of the Faculty of Fine Arts at Akdeniz University (Turkey), Mariyam Yezieva. The event was organized by the Department of Vocational Education as part of an academic internship.
The main goal of the exhibition is to convey the deep philosophical meaning of the “shańyraq” — a symbol of the spiritual and cultural unity of the Kazakh people — through the means of contemporary art.
Mariyam Yezieva is an Erasmus program coordinator, international expert, member of the International Association of Clothing Designers, laureate of international haute couture awards, and a professional designer. Her works are highly appreciated in Germany, the Netherlands, Kazakhstan, Russia, and Kyrgyzstan.
The exhibition presented around 20 sketches by the author, as well as clothing ensembles created jointly with students during master classes. Each piece depicts the “shańyraq” not only as a structural element of the yurt but also as a model of the universe, the hearth of the family, and a symbol of unity. In the image of the shańyraq, connections with the sky, earth, natural elements (sun, wind, water), and the inner world of a person (wisdom, joy, dream) are reflected.
In Mariyam Yezieva’s well-known works — “Köshpendi Rukhy”, “Täñirdiñ Tynysy”, “Qasietti Ağaştıñ Tüp-tamyrı”, “Kempirqosaq Köpiri” — the ancient meaning and symbolism of the “shańyraq” are expressed through a contemporary artistic language. The designer emphasized that each viewer should interpret the works in their own way:
“Some will feel calm, others motion, and some innovation. The main thing is that art gives everyone their own answer. For me, art is not only a visual image but also a way of visual thinking.”
Visitors of the exhibition engaged in informal conversations with the designer, asked questions about modern approaches and design experience, and the youth showed particular interest in national values.
