Kazakh artist Kazym Amankossov
from Taraz is dedicated to reviving Orteke, a traditional Kazakh art form
included in the UNESCO Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage
of Humanity. According to President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, Orteke will make a
significant contribution to promoting the country’s natural and cultural
heritage globally.
«For me, Orteke is associated
with the 1990s, when Kazakhstan gained independence. At that time, I came up
with the idea of reviving the art of playing the dombyra, as well as developing
playing the kobyz and the Orteke art. I began working on this in the early
1990s and introduced the musical genre of Kazakh traditional art in 1996,» said
Amankossov.
Amankossov, a member of the Union
of Artists of Kazakhstan, has gained fame not only as a sculptor working with
wood but also as a creator whose works often feature the image of the dombyra.
His unique paintings are now held in private collections worldwide, including
in France, the U.S., Germany, the UAE, and Spain. The artist is also involved
in volunteer work, offering art therapy sessions for patients at a regional
rehabilitation center.
«I’ve been attending classes for
four days now. We start with small forms. I’m gradually learning the technique
and making items out of plaster,» Aisha Anuar, a patient, said.
