Müsinder: Sculpture of Kazakhstan from the 1950s to the Present Day

The Almaty Museum of Arts (ALMA) in Almaty, Kazakhstan, presents “Müsinder: Sculpture of Kazakhstan from the 1950s to the Present Day,” a significant research exhibition. While sources indicate slightly different opening dates of September 7 or 8, 2026, the exhibition is confirmed to run through May 2027 and is held in the Saryarqa Hall of the museum. This event is one of the central activities marking ALMA’s first anniversary.

Curated by Dr. Aliya de Tiesenhausen, the exhibition brings together more than 50 works by several generations of Kazakh artists, spanning from academic pieces of the Soviet era to contemporary experiments. It includes works from museum and private collections, foundations, galleries, and artists’ studios, notably featuring five new pieces commissioned for the project. The exhibition adopts a thematic approach, focusing on the human body and its intricate relationships with society, memory, and history, rather than a strict chronological narrative.

The title “Müsinder” is derived from the Kazakh word “müsın,” which signifies both “sculpture” and “human figure.” The exhibition is structured around four thematic sections: “A Play of Opposites?” covering the late 1950s to early 1990s; “Family and the Connection Between Generations” examining familial bonds; “History and Myth-Making” investigating the role of the human figure in national memory; and “Body and Society: Acceptance or Resistance,” which delves into contemporary artists' perspectives on the human body as a nexus of personal, cultural, and political themes. An illustrated catalogue is expected to accompany the exhibition.