Sven Spieker and Dastan Kozhakhmetov on Central Asian Art's Soviet Legacy and New Institutions
In an email conversation published on June 24, 2026, Sven Spieker and Dastan Kozhakhmetov discuss the Soviet legacy in Central Asian contemporary art, the rise of new institutions like the Almaty Museum of Art and Tselinny Center of Contemporary Culture, and the challenges of critical art journalism in the region. Kozhakhmetov critiques the colonial aspects of Soviet rule, the persistence of self-exoticization in art, and the emergence of a quasi-governmental museum scene in Kazakhstan. He highlights the Almaty Museum of Art, founded by businessman Nurlan Smagulov, as a 'Kasteev Museum 2.0' that avoids politically sensitive works like Almagul Menlibayeva's '22 January' series about the 2022 Bloody January events. The Tselinny Center, designed by Asif Khan, opened with 'Documentation: Imagination of Central Asia on the Map of Contemporary Art' curated by Asel Rashidova. Kozhakhmetov also discusses generational strategies among artists, the role of video art, and the need for more critical art history in Central Asia.
Key facts
- Conversation conducted via email on March 23, 2026, published June 24, 2026.
- Kozhakhmetov identifies colonial tools in Soviet power in Central Asia.
- Almaty Museum of Art opened in Fall 2025, founded by Nurlan Smagulov.
- Museum's permanent exhibition includes works by Richard Serra, Yayoi Kusama, Anselm Kiefer, Bill Viola, and Fernand Léger.
- Menlibayeva's retrospective 'I Understand Everything' curated by Gridtiya Gavivong omitted her '22 January' series about Bloody January 2022.
- Tselinny Center of Contemporary Culture opened in Fall 2025, designed by Asif Khan.
- Inaugural show 'Documentation: Imagination of Central Asia on the Map of Contemporary Art' curated by Asel Rashidova.
- Kozhakhmetov critiques self-exoticization in works like Gulnur Mukazhanova's 'Barsakelmes' installation.
- Yerbossyn Meldibekov praised for transcending self-exoticization through conceptual analysis.
- Rustam Khalfin's video 'Love Races' (1999) described as hyper-self-exoticization and low-budget pornography.
- Critical art journalism in Central Asia is underdeveloped; few art historians exist.
- Valeria Ibrayeva, Georgy Mamedov, Yulia Sorokina, and Dilda Ramazan are emerging theorists.
Entities
Artists
- Sven Spieker
- Dastan Kozhakhmetov
- Abilkhan Kasteev
- Gapar Aitiev
- Oral Tansykbaev
- Bashim Nurali
- Rustam Khalfin
- Vyacheslav Akhunov
- Richard Serra
- Yayoi Kusama
- Anselm Kiefer
- Bill Viola
- Fernand Léger
- Almagul Menlibayeva
- Yerbossyn Meldibekov
- Kanat Ibragimov
- Elena Vorobyov
- Viktor Vorobyov
- Ulan Dzhaparov
- Kyzyl Tractor
- Gulnur Mukazhanova
- Saodat Ismailova
- Valeria Ibrayeva
- Georgy Mamedov
- Yulia Sorokina
- Dilda Ramazan
- Andy Warhol
- Kazimir Malevich
- Vladimir Sterligov
- Rosalind Krauss
- Asel Rashidova
- Gridtiya Gavivong
- Asif Khan
Institutions
- Almaty Museum of Art
- Tselinny Center of Contemporary Culture
- A. Kasteev National Museum of Arts of the Republic of Kazakhstan
- CIMAM
- Artmargins
Locations
- Kazakhstan
- Central Asia
- Almaty
- Kazakh Autonomous Soviet Socialist Republic
- Russian Soviet Federative Socialist Republic
- Kazakh Soviet Socialist Republic
- USSR
- Kyrgyzstan
- Uzbekistan
- Turkmenistan
- Bukhara
- Germany