The exhibition entitled ‘View
Through the Lens’ introduces guests and citizens of Astana to the evolution of
photographic technology. Featuring 53 unique exhibits provided by the fund of
the Presidential Center and the North Kazakhstan Regional Museum Association,
the exposition showcases diverse cameras that differ by production dates, sizes,
series, and technical characteristics. The first cameras made of wood were
heavy and bulky. The exhibition also features films, lamps, illuminators,
archival and documentary materials about the emergence of the photo industry in
Kazakhstan. Some exhibits were handed over to museums by citizens, while others
were found during scientific research. The exhibition coincides with the Day of
Science Workers in Kazakhstan.
“The first photographs appeared
in Kazakhstan in the early 20th century during the 100th anniversary of the
Bukey Horde. Nicholas II invited representatives of the Kazakh delegation from the
Bukey Horde and presented them with a camera and all its accessories. Upon
acquainting themselves with the photography techniques, they brought it to the Bukey
Horde, where the first three photos were captured,” said Botagoz Kaipova,
deputy director of Kazakhstan’s Presidential Center.
“Photography is a vast science. Its
development not only propelled advancements within the field but also
contributed to the progress of other genres, including cinematography,
polygraphy, typography, and journalism as a whole. Back then, when shooting on
film, photographers used a large camera obscura and had to print a photograph utilizing
various chemicals. You had only one-in-a-million chance of capturing certain
shots as you couldn’t see what you were shooting,” noted photographer Meirbek
Tazhkuranov.
