A Kazakh village in miniature - this is how one of the
courtyards in Shymkent is described. The walls of the house and garages have
been transformed into canvases, featuring national ornaments primarily used in
tus-kiiz (traditional Kazakh carpets). These carpets were part of a Kazakh
bride’s dowry, symbolizing blessings and wishes for a happy family life. The author
of the idea is ethnographer and artist Dana Bektayeva. She had long dreamed of
turning her yard into a gallery of national art. With a team of like-minded people,
she began its transformation, driven by a deep love for her native culture.
«This is important for every Kazakh and will remain significant
for future generations to understand or at least see how people once viewed the
world. Visitors come from all over Kazakhstan, mostly from other cities. Interestingly,
they are not local residents of Shymkent,» said ethnographer and artist Dana
Bektayeva.
Dana Bektayeva is also a collector. She has gathered
thousands of artifacts representing traditional Kazakh life, including chests, dishware,
and clothing. Now, the ethnographer plans to tour across Kazakhstan with a
large-scale exhibition and later open her own open-air museum.
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